Ukraine says Russia uses S-500 Prometheus “God of Fire” to guard Crimea Bridge

Russia has moved one of its S-500 air defense systems, the most advanced it has, to the Crimean Peninsula to protect the vital bridge connecting the peninsula to mainland Russia, known as the Crimean Bridge or Kerch Bridge.

The above information was revealed by the "chief" of Ukrainian military intelligence on June 12, reported The War Zone (TWZ). If true, this will be the first time the "God of Fire" S-500 Prometheus has been deployed here and will bring significant air defense capabilities, especially in fighting ballistic missiles.

Russia's S-500 Prometheus air defense system. Photo: Defence Security Asia

“The latest components of the S-500 have appeared” in the city of Kerch (in eastern Crimea), Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Directorate of Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (GUR), said in an interview with Ukrainian media.

“In principle, this will be a test… The Kerch Bridge has always been used, and as long as it is there, it will be used.” The War Zone could not independently verify the statements of Ukrainian intelligence chief Budanov.

The S-500 air defense system, called Prometheus (Prometey in Russian), is designed to provide battlefield ballistic missile defense and other long-range air defense capabilities. It is being developed to replace the A-135 anti-ballistic missile system currently deployed in silos around Moscow.

The S-500 is also intended to complement the long-range S-400 Triumf surface-to-air missile (SAM) system. While Moscow has been actively promoting the export of the S-400 and has won contracts with a number of countries around the world, the S-500 has undergone rigorous testing to confirm its capabilities.

In April, then-Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the first models of the next-generation S-500 air defense missile system would be deployed this year in two versions: ballistic missile defense (BMD) and extended-range air defense, Russian state news agency TASS reported.

Russia first released video of an S-500 firing, carried out during a test campaign at Kapustin Yar, near Astrakhan in the south of the country in July 2021. According to the Russian Defense Ministry at the time, it was believed to have shot down a target instead of a ballistic missile.

The Russian Defense Ministry released a video of the S-500 firing during a test in 2021.

This follows a test of the system in 2018, with Russian authorities saying the S-500 hit a target nearly 300 miles (483 km) away. According to Russian news agency RIA Novosti, the S-500's maximum range is about 370 miles (595 km). Russian officials have previously said they expect the first mass-produced S-500 system to be operational by 2025.

Regarding the Kerch region, where Europe's longest bridge, spanning the Kerch Strait connecting Crimea to mainland Russia, is located, this is the area that has suffered many attacks with ATACMS missiles provided by the US, according to the Ukrainian General Staff.

The May 30 attack reportedly hit two Russian ferries, which are vital for transporting Russian troops and equipment to the front line, especially when traffic on bridges is disrupted. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry released satellite imagery of the attack.

ATACMS, especially the longer-range variants with single-warhead (high-explosive single-warhead) warheads that Ukraine appears to be using, present a new challenge to Russia’s ability to defend Crimea. Compared to the cluster-warhead ATACMS variants that Ukrainian forces initially received, the new missiles pose a new threat to larger, more fortified structures like the Kerch Bridge.

While the ferries are a major target, the bridge is the biggest prize. It has already been successfully attacked twice, once with a truck bomb in October 2022 and again with an unmanned surface vessel (USV) in July 2023. Deploying the S-500 now would provide another layer of protection, especially against potential ballistic missile attacks.

With Ukraine never hiding its intention to destroy the Kerch Bridge, it probably won't be long before we know for sure whether the S-500 system will be deployed there and how effective it really is .

Minh Duc (According to TWZ, EurAsian Times)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/ukraine-noi-nga-dung-hoa-than-s-500-prometheus-canh-gac-cau-crimea-a668156.html