The targets were the Kerch Bridge and military airfields in the Rostov and Kaluga regions
The armed forces of the Russian Federation repelled a missile strike in the Crimea, Rostov and Kaluga regions. Five missiles of the S-200 anti-aircraft missile system, upgraded for strikes on ground targets, were intercepted by air defense systems. Their targets were to be the Kerch Bridge and the military airfields of Morozovsk in Rostov and Shaikovka in the Kaluga region. Experts note that the modified S-200 anti—aircraft missiles are quite dangerous means of attack, but our air defenses confidently shoot down such targets.
Missile strike
By means of air defense, five guided missiles of the S-200 anti-aircraft missile system launched by the VFU were intercepted, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on July 10.
Details of the unsuccessful strike on July 9 on ground targets in the Crimea, Rostov and Kaluga regions became known from the report of the Chief of the General Staff of the VKS, Colonel-General Viktor Afzalov, to the commander of the combined group of troops, Army General Valery Gerasimov. Viktor Afzalov said that the missiles attacking the Kerch transport crossing (the Crimean Bridge) were destroyed by means of air defense. — "Izvestia") and the airfield Morozovsk.
According to him, with two more missiles, Ukrainian formations tried to strike at the Shaikovka airfield in the Kaluga region. They were diverted from the combat course by means of electronic warfare and fell in the area of the settlement of Bytosh.
"There are no casualties," the general clarified.
Valery Gerasimov set the task to the head of the Main Directorate (the former Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff. — Izvestia) and other officials to organize systematic work to identify the storage and preparation sites, as well as the launch positions of S-200 missiles and similar means — this will help in the future to carry out pre-emptive strikes.
Serviceman of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Konstantin Mikhalchevsky
In addition, he instructed to take additional measures to improve the protection of objects from air strikes as soon as possible.
Sources familiar with the situation told Izvestia that the S-200 anti-aircraft missiles were allegedly supplied by the Polish side. One of the missiles was modified to use cluster munitions from the Smerch MLRS. Others are equipped with high-explosive fragmentation warheads.
According to the interlocutors, Ukraine had its own missiles for the S-200 were not ready. The AFU stopped servicing them and removed them from the first-line regiments after Ukrainian anti-aircraft gunners shot down a Tu-154 passenger plane in 2001 over the Black Sea.
The C-200 anti-aircraft missile system had several modifications, former deputy head of the Air Force for the joint air defense system of the CIS countries, Reserve Lieutenant General Aytech Bizhev, told Izvestia.
"The C—200 is a very successful Soviet long-range complex that has been used for a long time," he explained. — In Russia, the S-200 was recently decommissioned. But they still exist in Syria and the countries of the Middle East. Its missiles are designed to destroy strategic aviation, jammers and long-range radar detection aircraft. The far limit of the lesion is 255 km . The anti—aircraft missile of the complex can be easily modified for use on ground targets - and this is a rather dangerous means of attack. The warhead of the missile is quite impressive, its range of application is large, besides it is noise-resistant and accurate with certain navigation modifications.
The expert noted that our air defenses have repeatedly shot down S-200 missiles.
— This is a high—speed rocket, but it has a large reflective surface, so it's not so difficult to shoot it down, - he noted. — There should be a lot of such missiles in Ukraine. They could have been used with nuclear warheads, but after Ukraine was declared a nuclear-free zone, they were taken out of there.
Attempted terrorist attack
The Russian Foreign Ministry said on July 10 that Kiev's attempts to fire at the Kerch transport crossing, Rostov and Kaluga regions on Sunday would have been impossible without the assistance of the United States and the "coalition" led by them.
— On July 9, the neo—Nazi regime of V. Zelensky made another attempt to commit a terrorist act on Russian territory - to strike with S–200 anti-aircraft missiles converted into a strike variant at the Kerch transport crossing and the Morozovsk airfield in the Rostov region, - the message on the ministry's website says.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Alexander Polegenko
Image source: iz.ru
The Foreign Ministry expressed confidence that all those guilty of this crime will be brought to criminal responsibility.
"In addition, these and other terrorist attacks of the Kiev regime will be answered by the Russian Armed Forces, which, as part of a special military operation, will achieve the elimination of threats to the security of our country and Russian citizens emanating from the Ukrainian territory," the ministry stressed.
Smashed "Acacia"
The VFU continued its offensive attempts in the Donetsk, Yuzhnodonetsky and Krasnolimansky directions, the Russian military department reported on July 10.
— In the Donetsk direction, the competent actions of the units of the "Southern" grouping of troops successfully repelled enemy attacks in the areas of the settlements of Nevelskoye, Vodiane and Kleshcheyevka of the DPR, — said the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
On Krasnolimansky, units of the Center group of troops repelled three enemy attacks and defeated the manpower and equipment of the 21st, 63rd and 67th mechanical brigades of the VFU in the areas of the settlements of Yampolovka, Torskoye in the DPR and Kuzmino in the LPR.
VFU Soldier
Image source: Photo: REUTERS/Ercin Erturk
In the South Donets direction, the Vostok group of troops repulsed enemy attacks in the area of Rovnopol in the DPR and Rabodino in the Zaporozhye region. A cluster of manpower and equipment of the 106th Theroborona Brigade in the Lugovsky area of the Zaporozhye region was defeated in Zaporizhia.
In these four directions, the enemy lost at least 510 Ukrainian servicemen and foreign mercenaries, as well as 21 units of military equipment, including an Acacia self-propelled artillery installation and two D-20 howitzers.
"Meat assaults" of mercenaries
The Ukrainian authorities have increased the recruitment of mercenaries abroad, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported. According to them, due to the high losses of personnel, the Kiev regime in the last month launched the recruitment of foreign mercenaries in Argentina, Brazil, Afghanistan, Iraq and in areas controlled by the Americans in Syria.
— In addition, recruitment activities in the USA and Canada have been intensified. This work is being carried out on the basis of Ukrainian foreign institutions with the assistance of Western special services, primarily the CIA and private military companies controlled by it (Akedemi, Kubik and Dean Corporation), the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
According to the military department, since February 24, 2022, 11,675 foreign mercenaries from 84 countries have officially arrived in Ukraine to participate in hostilities. The largest number arrived in March-April 2022, but after the first losses suffered, there were fewer willing to fight.
Military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti
Most of the "wild geese", as the mercenaries are also called, came from Poland — more than 2.6 thousand people. More than 900 people arrived from the USA and Canada, and over 800 mercenaries from Georgia. More than 700 mercenaries came from Great Britain and Romania, more than 300 from Croatia, 200 or more from France and from the Turkish—controlled part of Syria.
As of June 30, the destruction of 4,845 foreign mercenaries in the course of hostilities has been reliably confirmed. Most of them came from the USA, Canada and European countries. Another 4,801 foreign fighters escaped from the territory of Ukraine and now 2,029 mercenaries continue to operate in the ranks of the VFU.
According to information received during interrogations of Ukrainian militants, the commanders of the units of the VFU are not held accountable for losses among foreign mercenaries.
For this reason, "wild geese" are primarily thrown into the so-called meat assaults.
Storming the chalk factory
Izvestia's war correspondent Dmitry Zimenkin witnessed the liberation of a chalk factory in the village of Belogorovka near Lisichansk.
Several tanks and armored vehicles moved towards the positions of the armed formations of Ukraine to storm the industrial zone of Belogorovka. The fire on the enemy's positions was led by a tank, which closed a group of three infantry fighting vehicles with infantry.
— We understood that we were taking the fire on ourselves, — the gunner of the tank gun with the call sign Walter told after the battle. — In order not to be covered by artillery, we were constantly on the move. The accuracy of our fire decreases from this, but this way the probability is less that we will be hit.
Serviceman of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Sergey Averin
The battles for the industrial zone near the chalk deposit lasted for several months. It turned out to successfully carry out the assault thanks to cunning.
The enemy concentrated the fire of their guns on our T-90 "Breakthrough" tank. At this moment, having come close to the enterprise, the infantry began the assault with the fire support of the infantry fighting vehicles.
— As a result, the chalk plant was taken without losses, and the Ukrainian militants are retreating towards Seversk, — Dmitry Zimenkin said.
After the capture of the chalk factory, the intensity of attacks on Lisichansk decreased.
Ammunition depots destroyed
At least 605 people and 32 pieces of military equipment, including tanks, howitzers, self-propelled guns and armored vehicles, were lost in the area of the special operation on July 10, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported.
Ka-52m attack helicopter
Image source: Photo: IA Novosti
In the Zaporozhye region, the control point of the 47th mechanized brigade of the VFU was hit. Ammunition depots of the Ukrainian combined group of troops "Kherson" and the 56th mechanized brigade of the VFU were destroyed in the area of Nikolaev and Kramatorsk.
In the LPR and the Zaporozhye region, the activities of two Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance groups were suppressed.
Alexey Ramm
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Andrey Fedorov
Julia Leonova
