Russia’s wave of missile attacks on Ukraine is intended to deplete Kiev’s air defense supplies and ultimately gain dominance of the country’s skies, a senior Pentagon official said Saturday.
Russia bombed cities across Ukraine with rocket attacks last week in one of the heaviest waves of airstrikes since Moscow began war on the country nearly nine months ago.
Ukraine says the attacks have crippled nearly half of the country’s energy system, creating a potential humanitarian disaster as winter approaches.
Colin Kahl, the Pentagon’s top political adviser, has warned that Moscow also hopes to deplete the Ukrainian air defenses that have so far prevented the Russian military from establishing dominance of the skies over Ukraine.
“They are really trying to overwhelm and exhaust Ukraine’s air defense systems,” Kahl told reporters during a trip to the Middle East.
“We know what Russia’s theory of victory is and we are committed to making sure it doesn’t work by making sure the Ukrainians get what they need to keep their air defenses viable.”
Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, Western military experts widely expected that the Russian military would immediately attempt to destroy Ukraine’s air force and air defenses. This is a central element of modern military strategy, allowing better support for advancing ground forces.
Instead, Ukrainian troops with surface-to-air rockets and other air defenses were able to counter Russian aircraft, and Ukraine’s skies remain contested to this day.
This initial critical failure of Russia has been central to Moscow’s problems in Ukraine.
“I think one of the things that has probably surprised the Russians the most is the resilience of Ukraine’s air defenses since the beginning of this conflict,” Kahl said.
“In large part, this is due to the ingenuity and intelligence of the Ukrainians themselves in keeping their air defense systems viable. But also because the United States and other allies and partners have provided tremendous support,” he said.
Last week, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin focused on air defense supplies for Ukraine in an online meeting he hosted at the Pentagon. Ukraine’s allies have supplied everything from older Soviet-era systems to more modern Western systems.
For the United States, this includes the new US-supplied NASAMS air defense systems which, according to the Pentagon, have so far had a 100% success rate in intercepting Russian missiles in Ukraine.
“We have transitioned the Ukrainians to standard NATO equipment in all sectors,” Kahl said.
The United States has supplied Ukraine with over 1,400 Stinger anti-aircraft systems along with counter-artillery and air surveillance radars.
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Source: Terra
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
