Ukraine's psychological warfare when attacking deep into Russian territory

(Dan Tri) - Ukraine's UAV and long-range missile attacks are having an impact on Russia as a psychological warfare move.

The moment a Ukrainian UAV flew towards Russia's Millerovo base (Photo: Forbes).

A Ukrainian drone attack on the Millerovo air base in Rostov Oblast, Russia on December 23. Russia fired interceptor fire, lighting up the early morning sky. Explosions rocked the base.

The targets that Ukraine is aiming at appear to be Russian air force Sukhoi Su-25 fighters, which are still stationed at this airport to carry out attacks on a 1,000km front during the past 34 months of war.

However, the target does not seem to be the most important thing for Ukraine at the moment. The purpose of Ukraine's deep strikes into Russia is not always to destroy specific Russian targets.

According to Tatarigami, founder of the Ukrainian analysis group Frontelligence Insight, Ukraine wants to gradually increase the cost of the war for Russia by sowing fear, increasing risks and disrupting Moscow's normal operations.

Forbes said the strategy is working. As Ukraine deployed deeper and more powerful strike weapons, including U.S. ATACMS missiles, SCALP-EG and Storm Shadow cruise missiles made in France and the U.K., along with a range of domestically produced drones, rockets, and cruise missiles, Russia responded by moving its forces further away from the front lines.

Just seven months ago, the Russian air force stationed 305 fighter jets within 100 miles of the front line in Ukraine. When the Ukrainian military began using ATACMS, each missile capable of scattering hundreds of grenade-like fragments over a wide area, Russia grew concerned and began withdrawing many of its fighter jets, moving them to bases farther away, beyond the ATACMS’s 200-mile range.

Last year, commercial satellites spotted dozens of Su-25s and Sukhoi Su-30 fighters at Millerovo. This fall, the same satellites spotted only a few Su-25s remaining at the base.

This massive evacuation of combat aircraft may have saved Russia from losing valuable combat aircraft to the devastation of the recent drone attack. But that doesn’t mean that Ukraine’s attacks on the Rostov airport were in vain. These strikes forced Russia to face a problem of time and distance.

Russia has had to pull back from bases 640km from the frontline, instead of 160km as before. This directly limits the number of times Russian fighters can fly in a week, and also limits the amount of time they can spend over the frontline. Sure, the Russian air force is protecting its aircraft. But in doing so, it is also making them less effective.

This is a good move for Ukraine. And it becomes even better as Ukrainian weapons reach further into Russian territory, and strike more frequently.

“Ukraine is gradually increasing its ability to raise the cost of war for Russia,” Tatarigami wrote.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-gioi/don-tam-ly-chien-cua-ukraine-khi-tan-cong-sau-vao-lanh-tho-nga-20241224151554615.htm