Ukraine has become ‘test site’ for Russian missiles – Air Force Command spokesman

26.06.2022 19:59

Ukrinform

Since the first day of the war, the Russian Federation has used a large number of missiles to strike Ukraine. Unfortunately, our country has become a kind of test site for Russian missiles of various types.

"They have been used them since day one. It's no secret, we publish this information. The weapons used by Russia are extremely diverse. Ukraine, unfortunately, is a kind of test site for Russia," Yuri Ihnat, Spokesman of the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said during the nationwide news telethon when asked whether the Russians had previously used missiles they fired today on Kyiv.

He cited as an example Kalibr sea-launched missiles which are fired mainly from the Black Sea. Strategic bombers Tu-95, Tu-160 launch Russian Kh-type missiles. These cruise missiles fly from the Caspian region.

The spokesman explained that Kh-22 missiles are fast missiles that can develop a speed of about 3,000 km per h. They are launched from TU-22M3 long-range bombers. If earlier Russia launched such missiles from Rostov region, the Black Sea, now it has redeployed these planes to the north. Flying into the airspace of Belarus, an aircraft strikes the northern regions as this missile has a range of only 600 km.

At the same time, Ihnat called Iskander and Soviet Tochka-U systems the most destructive ones. The Ukrainian air defense units find these missiles most difficult to be downed.

"There are Iskander operational and tactical systems and the Soviet Tochka-U systems. These missiles fly on a ballistic trajectory at high speed. It is extremely difficult for the Air Force to down such missiles, but there are cases when we shoot them down. It is also difficult to shoot down missiles of Bastion operational and tactical systems which are rather designed to hit naval targets. Their Oniks missile also has a speed of over 3,000 km per h, it is difficult to shoot it," the spokesman explained.

According to him, it is more realistic to shoot down Kalibr-type cruise missiles and various modifications Kh-type missiles.

Some missiles are extremely technological, quite modern and cost starting from $5 million. The missiles are routed from the Caspian Sea, and they fly clinging to the ground, which greatly complicates their detection by air defense forces, Ihnat added.