Ukraine is threatening more attacks on targets on Russian soil to follow after last week’s drone attack on air bases deep inside Russia, while Russian military experts admit Ukraine has the capabilities for such actions and call for a boost in Russian anti-aircraft defenses in the depth of the territory.
“We will strike where necessary, where we have to strike the enemy, because the enemy is here, from the border to Vladivostok,” and therefore “we will not ask anyone’s permission,” said the Secretary of the Council for Ukraine. National Security and Defense TV of Ukraine, Oleksii Danilov.
Washington will let Kiev choose how to use its weapons against Russia, asking only that it respect the “laws of war and the Geneva Conventions” after last week’s drone attacks on two Russian air bases hundreds of kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Ukraine appears to have used old Russian Tupolev Tu-143 drones in this attack, and at least one Russian bomber was damaged, although the drones were shot down by Russian anti-aircraft fire. This threat from Ukraine is real, according to Russian military analyst Mikhail Hodarionok, who analyzed the capabilities of the Ukrainian military and its ability to strike targets inside Russian territory.
“The military-industrial complex of Ukraine has all the necessary facilities and equipment for the development of drones and long-range missiles,” the Russian expert points out, recalling that Ukraine has facilities in Pavlodar and Kharkiv capable of producing long-range Grom missiles 500 kilometers. Even worse for Russia, Mihail Hodarionok explains, “there are no insurmountable difficulties preventing the conversion of Grom missiles into medium-range missiles capable of hitting targets at 1,000-5,500 kilometers.”
The Ukrainian military could also use Soviet-made X-55 and X-55SM missiles. Also, the same military analyst continues, Ukraine is stepping up its own production of drones. An example is the multi-functional attack drone ACEO ONE, which has a range of 1,500 kilometers. Therefore, it considers it necessary to strengthen the air defense of the main airfields of the strategic aviation located in the European part of Russia, placing there some S-400 missiles, Panţîr-S or Tor-M2 systems and anti-aircraft artillery.
“Most importantly, radar systems in target access areas must cover all altitudes, especially low and ultra-low, to guarantee timely activation of anti-aircraft systems,” Hodarionok stressed. However, he considers it unlikely that the deep strikes he is threatening Kiev with would be massive, in the absence of Western military aid that would give Kiev access to other medium- and long-range weapons.
