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No country in the world is currently able to guarantee a complete interception of combined air attacks. This was stated in a broadcast by Yuriy Ihnat, head of communications for the Air Force of Ukraine.
According to him, a key factor complicating air defense operations is weather conditions.
“The enemy uses a large number of means with different flight parameters and also takes advantage of weather conditions. This is a key factor,” he said.
Ihnat explained that many types of weapons require visual target acquisition, including mobile fire groups equipped with machine guns or MANPADS, as well as drone interceptors and aircraft. Their effectiveness decreases in adverse weather conditions such as clouds and thunderstorms.
“That is why today it is impossible to guarantee that everything will be shot down — neither in the Middle East nor here. The maximum possible number is intercepted if appropriate air defense means are available,” he noted.
He also emphasized that protecting large cities such as Kyiv is extremely difficult.
“One Patriot battery cannot cover Kyiv, as it is a huge city. A Patriot system ‘looks’ in one direction only, while threats may come from others. That is why a layered air defense system is used,” he added.
Recall that on the night of May 24, Russia carried out a massive combined attack on Ukraine using 690 aerial targets, including 600 drones and 90 missiles. Ukrainian air defense forces intercepted or suppressed 604 targets.
