Ukraine announced the destruction of 2 air defense shields in Russian territory

Ukraine tuyên bố phá hủy 2 lá chắn phòng không trong lãnh thổ Nga - 1 — Pantsir-S1 air defense missile-gun system (Photo: Mil.in.ua).

Newsweek reported that the Ukrainian intelligence agency (GUR) announced on January 7 that Kiev had destroyed two Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft artillery and missile systems of Moscow in the Belgorod region on the border of the two countries on January 6.

Ukraine is hunting for Russian air defense networks such as the short-range Pantsir air defense system in response to Moscow's continued efforts to attack Kiev's infrastructure.

Ukraine also seeks to destroy other Russian ground-based short-range air defense systems such as the Tor system, as well as longer-range defense systems, such as the S-300 and S-400.

According to the Ukrainian military, Kiev destroyed the two complexes using UAVs, but did not specify which type.

Ukraine rarely accepts responsibility for attacks on Russian territory. The Russian Defense Ministry has not commented on Ukraine's claim.

Pantsir-S1, a complex worth about $15 million, is designed to counter aircraft, helicopters, cruise missiles, precision-guided munitions and support other air defense units against large-scale attacks.

According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, the Pantsir system can detect and destroy many different types of targets, including small civilian drones measuring only about 30x30cm.

“Attempts by both Russia and Ukraine to destroy their adversaries’ ground-based air defence systems continue to be one of the most significant confrontations of the war,” the UK Ministry of Defence said on December 3, 2023.

Ukraine has repeatedly claimed in recent weeks that it has destroyed Russian ground-based air defense systems. Earlier this month, Kiev said its forces had eliminated two Buk systems within days of each other.

Last November, the British government said Russia may have withdrawn some air defence systems from its Baltic Sea base in Kaliningrad to the frontline in Ukraine to “compensate for recent losses”.

Dubbed the "beast", Pantsir-S1 is designed to detect and destroy all airborne targets at altitudes from 5m to 15km within a range of 200m to 20km in just 5 seconds.

The radar has a detection range of 32-36km and a tracking range of 24-28km for targets with a radar cross section (RCS) of 2m².

The Pantsir S1 system's firepower includes 12 radio-controlled missiles, two 30mm 2A38 automatic rapid-fire cannons, electro-optical sensors and radars. The Pantsir-S1 air defense system is often used to protect important target areas, residential and military areas.

Experts assess that the Pantsir-S1 system is a special weapon against low-flying enemy targets.

In late 2022, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the Pantsir-S1 short-range air defense system had demonstrated 100% effectiveness in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. This figure means that, in all missions Russia deployed the Pantsir, the complex hit the target it was supposed to intercept. It is not clear how this figure has changed.

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