Russia has changed tactics of strikes on Ukraine to maximize damage from attacks: ISW warns of threat

The aggressor country Russia, in its massive attack on Ukraine on July 8, likely used new tactics designed to maximize the damage from such a series of strikes. Ukrainian air defense will need to learn how to respond to them using the necessary levels of air defense.

This was pointed out by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW). Analysts noted that new terrorist methods of the Russians deserve attention and, in order to prevent new threats, require, among other things, action by the West.

Former Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Colonel Yurii Ihnat said after the horrific deadly Russian strikes on Monday that Russian forces are constantly improving their UAV reconnaissance and strike capabilities, as well as the effectiveness of cruise and ballistic missiles.

He noted that this time Russian cruise missiles were flying at extremely low altitudes. Thus, in some cases, Ukrainian air defense forces had to make attempts to intercept targets that were up to 50 meters above the ground. Ukraine's air defenders managed to shoot down 30 out of 38 missiles, including cruise missiles X-101, aircraft X-59/69, and ballistic missiles such as Kinzhal and Iskander-M.

The ISW emphasized that Ukrainian air defense has had high rates of downing some types of cruise missiles, especially the older X-101, since the beginning of the full-scale war.

"But Ihnat's suggestion that Russian forces are striking with cruise missiles at such low altitudes indicates that they may have improved their tactics and/or technology. This made it possible to inflict maximum damage on Ukrainian infrastructure, giving air defense practically no time to respond until the missile is at the closest distance from the ground," the experts say.

Ihnat also added that recently, the occupiers have been reducing the electromagnetic signature of drones until the last moment to prevent them from being detected by Ukrainian forces. According to him, this means that by the time the air defense detects the drone, the missile it was guiding may already be close to the target point.

"Russia has consistently adapted the packages of strikes it launches against Ukraine to take advantage of its air defense deficiencies. The July 8 attack is a new and adapted tactic to which Ukraine will need to learn to respond using the necessary levels of air defense provided by the West," ISW stated.

As reported by OBOZ.UA, diplomat and international politics expert Roman Bezsmertnyi said that the massive Russian attack on Ukraine on July 8, which killed more than three dozen people, is a diplomatic tactic of the aggressor country. According to him, this is how Russia wants to impose its position on us and the whole world.

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