Russia adapts new missile tactics, striking at low altitudes - Expert
Photo: Russian forces have learned to plan missile attacks at low altitudes (Getty Images)
Russian forces have once again changed their missile attack strategy, now planning strikes with missiles flying at very low altitudes, said aviation expert Kostiantyn Kryvolap in a comment to RBC-Ukraine’s YouTube channel.
"Missiles are launched at very low altitudes. The Russians have learned to plan these missions effectively, understanding the altitude dynamics," Kryvolap noted.
He pointed out that due to the absence of Saab 340 airborne early warning and control aircraft and tethered radar balloons, which can detect targets at similar distances, the number of intercepted cruise missiles has significantly dropped.
"We’re used to a success rate of at least 80-85%, and we generally expect to shoot down around 90% of incoming missiles. But the situation is now more complicated because the Russians are concentrating their strikes on specific targets. Previously, missiles were dispersed, but now they are flying in concentrated salvos," he explained.
According to Kryvolap, Russia is using Iskander and KN-23 missiles for these strikes and has resumed the use of S-300 systems, which had not been used for some time.
Additionally, he noted that Russian forces are attempting to leverage the stealth capabilities of the Su-57 fighter and Kh-69 missiles to evade detection. They try to quietly sneak in amidst the chaos of other attacks and hit their targets, Kryvolap explained. Out of eight such missiles launched, only one was intercepted, he said.
"The rest reached their targets. These aren’t the most powerful missiles, but they are highly accurate. Almost all cruise missiles entered from the east - none from the south or north. This was likely done to overload our air defense systems in that direction. This is the specificity of today's attack," Kryvolap explained.
Massive overnight attack on Ukraine
During the night of March 7, Russian forces carried out another large-scale assault, striking Ukraine with missiles and drones. In total, the enemy launched 261 aerial attack assets.
Ukraine’s air defense successfully intercepted more than 30 missiles and over 100 Shahed-type attack drones, along with other UAVs.
According to Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi, the overnight attack is not a path to peace. Ukraine is now awaiting a response from the United States.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the first step toward peace must be forcing Russia to stop targeting Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
