Russia continues its attacks against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, using increasingly sophisticated and expensive missiles with limited results, due to Ukraine's efforts to strengthen anti-aircraft defense to protect its civilian facilities.
“The enemy attacked Odessa tonight with supersonic anti-ship missiles of the Onix type, launched from Bastion coastal missile systems located in the (annexed peninsula of) Crimea, temporarily occupied” by Russian forces, the Army's Southern Operational Command denounced today on Telegram. Ukrainian.
According to the military department, the attack, during which no victims were reported, hit a hotel located in a tourist area and a grain warehouse near this port, located on the shores of the Black Sea, in addition to damage to several homes.
Big expenses and few achievements
The head of the press center of the Ukrainian Southern operational command, Natalia Gumeniuk, acknowledged in a Ukrainian television program that this Saturday's attack was carried out with missiles that were difficult to shoot down by the Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense due to the lack of achievements in the battle front.
He estimated that the ballistic and supersonic missiles increasingly used by Russian forces are very expensive, something that “does not correspond to the results they intend to achieve.”
“It is clear that the enemy highly values our ability to stop aerial threats, particularly (Iranian-made) drones. Shahed. “They see that our work is effective even when they launch many and try to use the type of weapon that allows them to achieve their objectives,” he said.
According to Gumeniuk, the priority of Russian attacks “is evident, targeting port infrastructure,” and they have become systematic after Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea grain export initiative.
Russia shows nuclear muscle
Meanwhile, Moscow is betting on the development of new missiles: the Russian Defense Minister, Sergei Shoigu, visited this Saturday the Krasmash company, which produces the Sarmat intercontinental missiles after the recent announcement by the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, about the beginning of delivery of these systems to the Russian Army.
The Defense Minister inspected several workshops of the company, in charge of the serial production of Sarmat missiles (SS-X-30 Satan-2, according to NATO), and capable of carrying 10-15 individually guided nuclear warheads.
“Supplying the Strategic Missile Forces with this system, which will become the basis of the ground grouping of Russia's strategic nuclear forces, is a priority to ensure the country's defensive capabilities,” Shoigu said.
Putin declared this Thursday that Moscow has “practically” finished the work “with the most modern types of strategic weapons” that it announced in 2018, in particular the Sarmat, which according to him, has a “practically unlimited range” and which makes it “useless “the United States anti-missile shield.
Protect energy infrastructure
In view of the Russian tactic aimed at destroying Ukrainian civilian infrastructure, preparation for the next winter becomes a first-order task for kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelesnki called for prioritizing “the protection of our energy facilities, the restoration of everything damaged by Russian attacks.”
“Overcoming this winter, overcoming all the difficulties and providing protection to our people is very important,” he indicated, calling on local authorities to work in this regard.
The Ukrainian president warned that “Russian terrorists will try again this winter to destroy our energy system”
“They are incapable of understanding that they will not subdue Ukraine. But they will try to deal more blows and will insist on their attempts to overcome our defenses,” he said, noting that kyiv “is fully aware of this danger.”
Zelensky recalled the agreement reached with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Granada on the delivery of a Patriot anti-missile battery, which he described as “a considerable reinforcement.”