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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
UNIAN, screenshot, photo ua.depositphotos.com By applying rocket drones against Ukraine, Russians are devising new tactical methods and taking weather conditions into account. Yuri Ihnat, head of the Communications Department of the Air Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, explained this on air during a telethon.
According to him, the use of Russian rocket-powered drones or “Shaheds” with internal-combustion engines depends in a certain way on weather conditions.
“The first thing the opponent will look at is the meteorological conditions in the passage route area and in the target area they want to strike. If there is fog or cloudiness, this will complicate the work of Ukrainian air defense. Accordingly, the opponent will use one or another device—a rocket-powered one or a standard “Shahed.” They are very well attuned to this,” Ihnat stated.
He added that Russians make life difficult for the Defense Forces not only by the number of means of destruction but also by devising new tactical methods and taking weather into account.
In September the adversary has already used several waves of a large number of classic “Shaheds” toward Ukraine’s western regions, but earlier they used rocket-powered UAVs that the enemy had accumulated.
As Ihnat noted, the foe is increasingly using rocket-powered “Shahed” drones—overall in Ukraine roughly 7700 of these munitions have been launched. Specifically, in the not-quite-full September, the Russians launched about 1900 attack drones with rocket engines. For comparison: for all of July there were 2800. The kill rate—the percentage of downed missiles—was 60%, which is quite a large indicator given the current capabilities of the Defense Forces, Ihnat noted.
Speed is beyond human control.
The serviceman was also asked to comment on the recent use of the Zircon missiles by the foe and to explain how quickly these munitions can reach Kyiv.
“Missiles like Zircon, although considered anti-ship, have been repeatedly launched at ground targets from Crimea, and there have already been many uses of these missiles. Two yesterday, although launched from the north, did not reach their targets... The same cases occurred with “Kinzhals”—if we are talking about hypersonic missiles like the Kinzhals or Zircon, launched from ground and aerial platforms, the question is how fast or how slow—the question is simply unnecessary to discuss,” Ihnat emphasized.
According to him, we are talking about very fast missiles—about 10 thousand km/h. The spokesman stressed that an ordinary person cannot even imagine how fast such a munition moves.
“This is a speed that is beyond human perception. The eye cannot see it, except perhaps the incoming trajectory,” the serviceman explained.
Therefore, Ihnat said, it comes down to minutes, even seconds for a proper response. This concerns launches from both Crimea and the north—one might think the distance is large, but these missiles cover it very quickly.
As the Ukrainian Air Force representative noted, the question is more about how quickly the Defense Forces can obtain invaluable intelligence about the launches of these munitions from Ukrainian sources or from Western partners.
“We rely on our Western partners who can share information from NATO centers about the emergence of ballistic, aeroballistic, or anti-ship missiles and warn us, and we will inform the population,” the serviceman added.
On rocket-powered drones that punch through defenses
He was also asked to comment on information about Ukrainian drones that can intercept the foe’s rocket UAVs.
“Everyone is eagerly awaiting the arrival of this innovative weapon... There is much talk about there being many confirmed interception results, even with copter-type interceptors. This is under the condition that the rocket drone flies with relatively low speed and low altitude,” Ihnat said.
At the same time, as the serviceman stressed, the future belongs to innovative weapons, including rocket drones interceptors.
Intercepting drones in Ukraine — what is known
Recall that yesterday, 20 September, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine has created and successfully used a new interceptor drone. The Security Service’s military counterintelligence showed a high-speed intercept of a Russian rocket drone in the air. Zelensky stated that there is a good result from the SBU’s military counterintelligence in countering rocket “Shaheds.”
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