US soldiers prepare to fire a Patriot missile during an exercise in Qatar (Photo: US Air Force).
Russia has stepped up missile attacks on Ukraine in recent days, with the largest-scale attacks yet in the nearly two-year conflict.
Russia's recent large-scale missile attacks on Ukraine may have had a specific target.
One expert said that in addition to trying to destroy targets in the attack, Russia may be trying to "lure" Ukraine into using precious missile ammunition for the US-made Patriot air defense system.
And without the protection of the Patriot system, Russian forces would be able to attack targets more effectively and without fear of failure.
According to military experts, this is an especially opportune time, because in the near future if the US Congress approves a new aid package for Ukraine, Kiev may be provided with additional ammunition specifically for the Patriot system.
Dr. Jade McGlynn, a Russian politics researcher and senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said that the effort to deplete Ukraine’s Patriot and other missile arsenals was clearly part of Russia’s strategy. She also said that other factors may have driven Russia’s decision to step up its missile strikes in recent days.
Yaroslav Trofimov, chief foreign correspondent of the Wall Street Journal, agrees.
He said Russia was trying to drain Ukraine's Patriot missile arsenal in the hope of then destroying the launchers, making them much harder for Kiev to replace. Trofimov also highlighted another type of air defense missile, NASAMS, as a Russian target.
Ukraine has received five Patriot missile systems from the United States, Germany and the Netherlands. In December 2023, Kiev said it would receive more Patriot systems from Western countries, including one from Germany.
But it has not provided details about where other systems will be supplied, while potential donor the United States cannot currently provide further aid without congressional approval.
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