“We have no days off.” Russian air attacks on Kyiv have come in relentless waves. Yet very little has penetrated the patched-together but increasingly sophisticated air defense network. Here’s why.
Ukrainian tridents, representing the numbers of drones, fighter jets, and missiles that have been shot down by a Ukrainian air defense team, on the side of a truck in the Kyiv region of Ukraine, on May 23, 2023. The drill is the same for Ukraine’s air defense crews as they work around the clock to combat the relentless barrage of missiles the Russians launch at Kyiv, mostly foiling the most intense bombardment of the capital since the first weeks of the war.
“We have no days off,” said Riabyi, the call sign of the 26-year-old “shooter” who is part of a two-person anti-aircraft missile crew responsible for protecting just one patch of sky just outside Kyiv. Air defense teams have managed to shoot down roughly 90% of the incoming missiles and drones recently and, remarkably, 100% of the ballistic missiles aimed at Kyiv, according to the Ukrainian air force. Those statistics could not be independently verified.
After the team fires, their position is exposed and they have two minutes to move or risk being targeted. Ballistic missiles are capable of traveling much faster. Ukrainians target them with interceptor missiles that are also capable of traveling at high speed, and that have their own guidance and radar to assist in tracking at such speeds. The only proven defense against the powerful Russian Iskander missiles is the U.S. Patriot air defense system, which can be fired within nine seconds of a target being identified.
Yusov, the representative of Ukrainian military intelligence, said that the Russians changed tactics after bombardment of civilian infrastructure and cities over the winter and early spring failed to cripple Ukraine’s ability to function.
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