Ukrainian air defense cannot withstand Russian missiles
Over the last week of September, Russian troops carried out nine massive strikes on the warehouses of the VFU, as well as on the training and deployment sites of Ukrainian militants and foreign mercenaries. Storage sites for Storm Shadow cruise missiles, parking of aircraft carriers of these munitions and air defense positions were hit. Experts note that effective strikes are being carried out on the enemy's rear, and the Ukrainian air defense cannot effectively resist them. Also during the week, the Russian army repulsed 43 attacks in the area of its own, and the enemy lost 3,660 militants and 459 pieces of equipment killed and wounded.
Precise strikes
Last week, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation carried out nine group strikes with high-precision long-range weapons and UAVs, destroying ammunition depots and equipment of the VFU, training sites for saboteurs, as well as accommodation points for Ukrainian servicemen and foreign mercenaries. This was reported on September 29 in the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
— As a result of the strikes, the command post of the Foreign Legion formation, two large arsenals with weapons and ammunition were destroyed, as well as the supply of foreign-made weapons and logistical support of Ukrainian troops operating in the Donetsk and Zaporozhye directions were disrupted, — said the official representative of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov.
According to Izvestia sources familiar with the situation, on the night of September 25, Russian troops attacked the Stormshadow cruise missile storage sites, aircraft parking lots, as well as control points of Ukrainian aviation. For the first time, the command of the VFU involved a newly formed tactical air defense group in repelling the strike. It is fully armed with IRIS-T anti-aircraft systems, and its organizational and staff structure is similar to NATO units. Nevertheless, the Ukrainian compound could not repel the blow.
MiG-31 of the Russian Aerospace Forces
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Nina Padalko
On the night of September 26, the Russian armed forces launched a precision strike on the concentration of Ukrainian troops, as well as ammunition storage sites. One of the tasks was the destruction of the IRIS-T anti-aircraft missile systems. According to sources, as a result of the combined strike, at least one combat vehicle from the anti-aircraft system was hit.
On September 28, the Russian armed forces launched a combined attack on the arsenal of missile troops and artillery in the Krivoy Rog area. During it, several concreted buried storages were hit. The target of the strike was stocks of artillery shells and missiles. The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation have used a new strike weapon system, which has proven its high efficiency.
A powerful and purposeful work is being carried out on the enemy's rear, military expert Vladislav Shurygin told Izvestia.
"Her assessment can be considered the fact that a few days ago the foreign ministers of a number of NATO countries gathered in Kiev," he said. — The main agenda of their trip is to strengthen the Ukrainian air defense system. This means that air strikes are reaching their goal and Ukrainian armed formations feel extremely difficult. This is a good proof that the work is going right.
All attacks are repulsed
Russian troops continued to successfully repel the attacks of the VFU for a week, the Russian Defense Ministry reported. In the Donetsk direction, units of the Southern Group of Troops repelled 31 such attacks. In order to make up for the heavy losses due to the failed assaults of Kleshcheyevka and Andreevka, the command of the VFU transferred units of the 33rd, 67th and 110th mechanized brigades here from other directions.
Eight attacks of assault groups were repulsed in the Zaporozhye direction during the week. In addition, the personnel and equipment of two brigades were defeated.
The servicemen of the 47th mechanized brigade of the VFU refused to perform combat missions due to the losses incurred. Currently, the command is taking them to the rear area from the vicinity of the Work of the Zaporozhye region.
Serviceman of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Stanislav Krasilnikov
In the South Donets direction, Russian units repelled four attacks by the defense units in the Priyutny area of the Zaporozhye region.
Also in the area of Marfopol in the Zaporozhye region, two enemy sabotage groups were destroyed.
In the Kupyansk direction, the Western grouping of troops defeated the troops and equipment of the airborne and mechanized brigades of the VFU in the districts of the Kharkiv region. And in the Krasnolimansky direction, the VFU made unsuccessful attempts to restore lost positions in the area of the settlement of Torskoye in the DPR and the Serebryansky forestry. The units of the "Center" group of troops repulsed 12 enemy attacks.
The activities of three sabotage and reconnaissance groups have been suppressed in the Kherson direction.
Alligators vs. Leopards
Izvestia correspondent Marina Kravtsova visited the military airfield and saw how the Ka-52 Alligator pilots were striking at the positions of the VFU in the Kupyansk direction.
The crew received a target — an enemy stronghold. Helicopter pilots will strike with unguided jet missiles. Before departure, the rotorcraft is refueled and the serviceability of all systems is checked. Our servicemen write the names of their fallen comrades on the missiles. For them, every departure is also retribution.
The Ka-52 strike aircraft always flies in tandem with the multifunctional Mi-8, which covers it and provides fire support. Helicopters are moving at the lowest possible altitude, so as not to get into the air defense visibility zone, at a speed of 300 km/h.
Ka-52 helicopter
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Evgeny Biyatov
The blow is lightning fast. A couple of seconds — and the stronghold of the Ukrainian militants was destroyed.
On the way back, the Mi-8 lands several times to pick up fighters from the contact line who are going on vacation. Now the Ka-52 "Alligator" provides him with air cover.
Another Ka-52 is loaded with guided missiles "Whirlwind". He goes hunting for enemy armored vehicles. With one blow, the crew destroys the German-made Leopard tank that appeared on the front line.
— A lot of artillery and foreign equipment, such as infantry fighting vehicles, were liquidated. Ours have also recently worked on the enemy's air defense system," said the navigator—operator of the Ka-52 with the call sign Cavalier.
According to the servicemen, they do not have idle sorties with "Whirlwinds". In a month, they knocked out 40 units of VFU armored vehicles.
Minus five VFU planes
During the week in the special operation zone, Russian troops destroyed more than 3,660 fighters of the VFU and 459 pieces of equipment, including tanks, howitzers, self-propelled guns and armored vehicles.
In a week, the Russian Aerospace Forces disabled five combat aircraft of the Ukrainian air forces: a Su-25 attack aircraft near the settlement of Toretsk in the DPR, two MiG-29 fighters at the Dolgintsevo airfield in the Dnipropetrovsk region, two MiG-29 fighters delivered from Poland, upgraded for the use of Western missile weapons, at the Kulbakino airfield in the Mykolaiv region.
Serviceman of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation
Image source: Photo: RIA Novosti/Evgeny Biyatov
Russian air defense systems shot down a Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force near the settlement of Kleshcheyevka in the DPR, 33 rockets of the HIMARS and Alder multiple launch rocket systems, a JDAM guided aerial bomb, as well as four HARM anti-radar missiles manufactured by the United States and 185 Ukrainian UAVs.
Julia Leonova
Andrey Fedorov
Bogdan Stepovoy