Russia has deployed its solely S-500 air protection system in Crimea as Ukraine ups its assaults on the occupied peninsula, Ukraine’s spy chief stated this week.
The S-500, a sophisticated system described by Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian Protection Intelligence Directorate as “experimental,” has by no means been utilized in fight earlier than.
Russia moved the S-500 to guard the Kerch Bridge, in addition to strengthen Russia’s air protection community in occupied Crimea, Budanov stated Wednesday. The 12-mile-long bridge, which connects mainland Russia to occupied Crimea, is each a streamlined means for Russian forces to succeed in the realm, in addition to a image of Russia’s management of the peninsula.
It is repeatedly been a goal for Ukraine’s drone boats, bombs, and strikes. Russian air protection property have additionally been targets, particularly in latest weeks.
Vera Katkova/Anadolu Company through Getty Photographs
The S-500, known as the Prometheus, is a cellular, surface-to-air protection system designed to intercept ballistic missiles and different ranged weapons. The system is “basically a modernized model of the S-300,” the Institute for the Research of Conflict, a Washington DC-based assume tank, stated Thursday.
The S-500 has been examined a number of instances however has by no means been in fight earlier than. Russia has claimed it is capable of intercept all weapons, together with hypersonic missiles, that are extraordinarily quick and fly unpredictable paths at low altitudes, however that functionality stays unclear.
Russia has beforehand claimed missiles had been hypersonic that weren’t and that weapons had been unbeatable that additionally weren’t.
The S-500’s problematic growth and manufacturing, from the mission’s begin in 2010 to extreme delays over the next decade, raised questions on its viability as a system. It was delivered to the armed forces in 2021, although in a restricted state unable to fulfill the necessities for the system.
In April 2024, then-Russian Protection Minister Sergei Shoigu introduced that it will enter battle in considered one of two variations: missile protection and an anti-aircraft position.
REUTERS/Vitaly Nevar
The S-500’s new position defending the Kerch Bridge and bolstering Russian air protection capabilities in Crimea comes as Ukraine conducts strikes on the peninsula aimed toward making the realm untenable for the Russian army.
Since late Could, assaults within the space, notably focusing on Russia’s air defenses, have intensified. The Normal Workers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have reported main strikes, together with one this week, hitting S-300 and S-400 methods.
Ukraine is suspected of utilizing US-supplied Military Tactical Missile Methods, or ATACMS, for these strikes, amongst different capabilities.
As Ukraine continues to focus on air defenses on the peninsula, Russia might deploy extra of its air protection property there, ISW stated, “making them weak to additional Ukrainian strikes.” A battle of this nature might pressure and deplete Russia’s air protection arsenal.
White Sands Missile Vary/John Hamilton
“ISW beforehand assessed that Ukrainian forces could also be conducting an organized effort to degrade Russian air defenses, which might allow Ukraine to extra successfully leverage manned fixed-wing airpower (specifically utilizing F-16 fighter jets) in the long run,” the assume tank wrote.
Ukraine’s strikes into Crimea have lengthy been supported by the US and Western allies however come on the heels of US President Joe Biden and different NATO leaders agreeing — in some instances, reluctantly — to let Ukraine use long-range weapons to strike Russian targets in occupied territory.
Per ISW, Ukraine might “in precept” replicate the success of their Crimea strikes in different occupied areas ought to Western allies approve such strikes, creating alternatives for Ukraine and degrading Russia’s capabilities.
