Destroy Before Launch: Can Ukraine Stop Russian Ballistics at the Start?

In addition to air defense, there is another way to counter Russia's ballistic strikes: hitting the launchers before the rocket is launched. Implementing such a scenario is possible, but it requires maximum speed and coordination between intelligence and strike forces.

Only minutes matter for a strike. This scenario is quite real, but its realization requires maximum coordination among all intelligence and strike assets, explains military-political analyst Oleksandr Kovalenko. "It is necessary to identify the launch unit at the stage of deployment or preparation for launch and deliver the strike literally within a matter of minutes," Kovalenko notes. According to him, this is why Ukraine needs its own ballistic capability that would allow striking almost instantly after the target is detected. Also read: Russia has accumulated hundreds of ballistic missiles, and destroying launchers is extremely difficult, - 'Flash' A ballistic capability of Ukraine as a deterrent Active defense could become one of the key elements of a future defense system, agrees military expert Ivan Stupak. If there is information about a launch preparation, the best solution is to destroy the launcher itself before the rocket starts. At the same time, development of Ukrainian ballistic missiles, in his view, could become one of the most effective deterrents against Russian attacks. "I hope that Ukrainian programs, which have been talked about a lot recently, will truly move from statements to serial production," Stupak says.

Earlier, RBC-Ukraine reported that Ukraine plans to destroy Russia's ballistic launchers. We also wrote about the Foreign Ministry's position on the necessity of destroying such installations.