Russian missiles "strike", Ukraine's defense system "collapses"

Another MIM-104 Patriot system destroyed by Russia

On July 20, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that the Russian military had targeted the MIM-104 Patriot long-range air defense system of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

"The operational-tactical aviation, drones, missile forces and artillery of Russian groups of forces attacked two launchers and one AN/MPQ-65 radar station of the US-made Patriot SAM (surface-to-air missile) system. The Russian military also attacked manpower and equipment clusters of Ukrainian forces in 113 areas," the Russian Defense Ministry said at its daily press briefing.

However, the Russian Defense Ministry did not specify when and where the Patriot system was targeted. In recent days, several videos have been released showing the moment the Russian military attacked high-value targets in Ukraine.

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Russia regularly launches attacks on the MIM-104 Patriot long-range air defense system. (Photo:SF)

On the night of July 20, Ukrainian media also reported a Russian attack using four Iskander-M tactical ballistic missiles and 17 Geran-type suicide drones. Several attacks were reported in the Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy and Chernihiv regions. The Patriot SAM system that was destroyed may have been in one of these areas.

Last year, Ukraine received two Patriot systems and two launchers from Germany, another from the United States, and two additional launchers donated by the Netherlands. These systems are a combination of PAC-2 and PAC-3. Most of these systems have been damaged or destroyed by the Russian military.

Commander of the Air and Missile Defense Forces (Russia), Lieutenant General Andrey Semyonov commented on the performance of the Patriot system in Ukraine in a recent article, in which he said that these air defense systems cannot even protect themselves.

Precision strikes by the Russian military have cost Ukrainian forces much of their valuable Western-supplied equipment. (Photo: AVP)

But in recent months, Kiev has been asking Western countries to provide more Patriot systems. In response to these requests, the United States, Germany and Romania have each promised to provide a system to Ukraine in recent months. Other countries, including the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway and Spain, have said they will provide additional missiles.

Russian firepower causes great damage to Ukraine's strategic weapons

Along with the Patriot system, HIMARS is also a valuable target that the Russian military regularly targets. The tense years for the multiple launch rocket system HIMARS are 2022 and the first half of 2024.

In Ukraine, Russian forces have destroyed several HIMARS systems since the start of the special military operation. (Photo: AVP)

2022 turned out to be the most difficult year for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in terms of the number of destroyed HIMARS systems. During this period, 31 cases of damage were recorded. The following year, the situation changed somewhat when the Armed Forces of Ukraine changed the tactics of using HIMARS/M270 and reorganized military logistics, which resulted in the number of losses falling to 13 systems. However, in the first half of 2024, the Russian military destroyed or damaged 21 M142/M270 systems.

Major losses of HIMARS multiple launch systems were recorded in the Donetsk and Kharkiv regions. In particular, in the area controlled by Ukrainian forces in the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, about 25 launchers were destroyed or damaged. In the Kharkiv region, the damage amounted to 10 systems. In the Kherson region, 4 systems were destroyed.

Expensive weapons systems of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were destroyed by the Russian army. (Source: AVP)

The loss of HIMARS has a significant impact on the combat capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. These systems are important tools at the tactical and operational levels, capable of striking rear units and support channels. However, the large losses have reduced the overall effectiveness of using these systems on the battlefield.

HOA AN (According to AVP, SF)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/ten-lua-nga-ra-don-he-thong-phong-thu-hien-dai-ukraine-guc-nga-20424072110273891.htm