Ukraine's armed forces launch strike on Russian air defense systems, preparing conditions for F-16 deployment – ISW
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To prepare for the arrival of F-16 fighters in Ukraine in the summer and fall of 2024, Ukraine's armed forces are actively targeting Russian air defense systems in the temporarily occupied territories and along the Russian border.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported this.
The day before, on July 16, the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's armed forces, Oleksandr Syrsky, announced that Ukrainian troops had struck the S-300 position in the occupied Donetsk region.
In addition, in general, for an undetermined amount of time, Ukrainian troops have already destroyed:
- 20 S-300 launchers,
- 15 radar stations.
Syrsky published geolocation footage showing Ukrainian forces using cluster munitions to attack Russian air defense systems located east of occupied Manhush in the Donetsk region.
According to ISW, the Council of Deputies of the Krasninsky village of the Volgograd region of the Russian Federation reported the elimination of the commander of the Russian S-300 battery as a result of a Ukrainian air defense system strike on a position on the Kharkiv front on July 12.
"The commander of the Russian S-300 most likely died during the Ukrainian attack on the occupied Mariupol since the time of the commander's death is 15 minutes after the attack on the Russian S-300 air defense system near Mariupol on July 12.
At the same time, ISW did not detect signs of a Ukrainian attack on Russian air defense assets in the Belgorod region on July 12 and cannot confirm the exact location of this attack," the report emphasized.
The deputies also reported that the commander of the S-300 battery was killed on July 12. In a recent letter, he noted that in the last two weeks, the strikes of the Ukrainian army on Russian air defense equipment killed two Russian air defense battery commanders. ISW analysts assumed that a certain period in June – early July 2024 is meant.
Also, on July 16, Syrsky said that Ukrainian troops were systematically destroying Russian air defenses to create conditions for Ukraine's successful use of strike aircraft. In addition, he added that F-16s would arrive "soon."
"Deliveries of F-16s to Ukraine are likely to begin in small numbers, and material and training constraints are likely to prevent the Ukrainian armed forces from using extensive air power in 2024," ISW previously noted.
Ukrainian officials have said that Ukrainian forces also intend to use the F-16 and other aircraft as part of the broader umbrella of Ukrainian air defenses.
However, as ISW previously noted, Ukraine will need to reduce Russia's overall air defense capabilities to protect the F-16s and properly integrate them into Ukraine's combat operations.
For reference:
On the night of July 16, units of the missile forces of Ukraine's armed forces, in cooperation with other components of the Defense Forces, struck the enemy S-300 complex on the territory of the temporarily occupied Donetsk region.
Also, on the night and early morning of June 12, the Ukrainian army once again attacked Russian anti-aircraft missile systems deployed by the invaders on the temporarily occupied Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea.
In addition, on the night of June 10, the Ukrainian military carried out successful strikes on anti-aircraft missile systems on the territory of the temporarily occupied Crimea.
