Ukraine struggles to intercept enemy missiles as Russia ramps up attacks and utilizes deadlier weapons – WSJ
Patriot air defense systems
Lately, Ukraine has been intercepting fewer enemy missiles as Russia ramps up attacks and utilizes more powerful weapons. The shelling from the Russian military in Ukraine has become more lethal than ever before.
The Wall Street Journal reports this.
The decrease in Ukraine's ability to defend its airspace is a result of heightened Russian drone and missile attacks, along with ballistic missile strikes. Additionally, Kyiv is facing a shortage of ammunition for the Western-supplied Patriot system, previously the top defense against such threats.
According to an analysis by the Wall Street Journal of daily data from the Ukrainian Air Force Command, Ukraine has intercepted approximately 46% of Russian missiles over the past six months. This is compared to a rate of 73% in the previous six months. However, the interception rate dropped to only 30% last month. Interestingly, Shahed's interception rate decreased by just one percentage point to 82% over the past six months.
Although the data on attacks and interceptions over the past few days contained some gaps, and Ukraine may use this information for propaganda, a spokesperson from Ukraine's armed forces, alongside an unbiased defense expert, stated that the data provides a primarily accurate depiction.
The intensifying bombings are destroying infrastructure and cities, further draining the already scarce supply of missiles that Ukraine requires to prevent the Russian Air Force from entering its airspace.
As a European military intelligence spokesperson stated, the next few months will be critical in determining whether the Russian air force can be controlled before Ukraine receives new air defense support from the West.
The data shows that in the last six months, Russia has launched about 45% more drones and missiles than in the previous six months.
Based on the statements of a spokesperson for the Ukrainian army, intercepting more attacks could deplete ammunition supplies and result in stronger attacks, potentially overwhelming the Ukrainian defense as their air defense systems may not have enough time to recharge.
Over the past six months, Russia has released 2,628 Shahed drones.
Analysts say these drones are partly used to test air defense systems before launching missiles.
For reference:
It should be noted that on May 4, President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russian troops had launched over 380 attacks on various cities and regions in Ukraine within a span of one week.
It is worth adding that during April, the Russian Federation used hundreds of different missiles and thousands of guided aerial bombs (KABs) against Ukraine.
