Russian missile tactics evolve, hitting Ukrainian hospitals hard

Late in the afternoon on July 8, the internet was flooded with images of missiles labeled: "For Ohmatdyt," "For Ukrainian children." This was how Ukrainians vented their anger over the Russian missile attack on Kyiv, which occurred a few hours earlier.

One of the missiles struck the Ohmatdyt Children's Hospital, the largest in Kyiv and all of Ukraine. Severely ill children, including those suffering from cancer, are treated there. Within the first 24 hours in Kyiv, 37 victims were identified, including three children and two pregnant women. Additionally, 117 people were injured. The number of fatalities continues to rise as the rubble of destroyed buildings is still being cleared.

This was not the first time the Russians hit a medical facility. Nearly two years ago, on July 14, 2022, missiles fired from ships in the Black Sea fell on Vinnytsia, with one of them striking the "Neuromed" clinic.

The attack on Vinnytsia coincided with a conference in The Hague dedicated to prosecuting Russian crimes in Ukraine. Similarly, the Monday attack on Kyiv occurred on the eve of the NATO summit in Washington, D.C.

According to Ukraine's Air Force, on July 8, Russians launched 38 rockets, eight of which could not be neutralized. After months of ineffective attacks, they changed their strike tactics, leading to immediate and tragic consequences. Primarily, the missiles were programmed with a very low flight profile, not exceeding an altitude of 164 feet.

"Yesterday, Russian cruise missiles flew at very low altitudes," said Lt. Col. Yuriy Ignat, press spokesperson for Ukraine's Air Force, the day after the hospital was hit. "Russia continuously improves not only surveillance and strike drones but also other means of aerial attack - cruise and ballistic missiles. As a result, they become increasingly difficult to detect and destroy. Enemy missiles have additional measures, particularly radar and thermal traps."

Yuriy Ignat noted that the Russians have modernized their cruise missiles by installing laser beam irradiation sensors. These sensors activate chaff dispensers, causing the missile to execute evasive maneuvers. This makes it difficult for air defense systems to neutralize targets.

The officer also mentioned that Russian missiles fly along a predetermined route near the target without using satellite navigation. GPS signal receivers are only turned on shortly before hitting the intended object, drastically shortening the air defense's reaction time.

Although Ukrainians have not yet found an effective way to neutralize modernized Russian missiles, they are showing remarkable ingenuity in combating drones.

Every day, 30-40 Russian reconnaissance drones fly over Ukraine, searching for warehouses, dispersal points behind the frontline, or communication routes. Destroying them with expensive missiles is economically senseless. Mobile anti-aircraft groups armed with heavy machine guns or light aircraft equipped with machine guns are used to neutralize them.

This solution is reminiscent of the early days of World War I. At that time, arming aircraft was not standard, and pilots often shot at each other with personal firearms. Some aviators had machine guns mounted in the observer's cabin. On such an armed Voisin III, Sgt. Joseph Frantz and Cpl. Louis Quenault's crew shot down the first enemy aircraft in history.

Ukrainians used a similar tactic on the southern front. The pilot is the "driver," tasked with positioning the aircraft so the shooter in the rear cabin can take down the enemy drone.

Ukrainians have begun using school aircraft from aeroclubs to destroy low-flying and slow drones, such as the Yak-52, with considerable success. Under the cockpit of one of the Yaks, 12 different Russian drones shot down have already been painted, making the shooter an ace.

The Ukrainian Air Force is very pleased with the results of this solution and plans to arm more Yak-52s and potentially purchase light combat aircraft. The favorite is the Embraer A-29 Super Tucano, which Ukrainians wanted to buy back in 2019. The aircraft can serve for training and as a light attack aircraft.

Such aircraft types have proven effective in counter-guerrilla actions in Afghanistan and fights with South American drug cartels. In the Ukrainian case, the two fixed 12.7 mm machine guns are more than sufficient to effectively shoot down Orlan-10, Shahed 131, and Shahed 136 drones, which are the most commonly seen in the sky.

Certainly, those responsible for the Monday attack on Kyiv cannot sleep peacefully. Vasyl Maliuk, head of Ukraine's Security Service, stated in a communiqué that "The Security Service will do everything in its power to ensure that the enemy suffers the maximum penalty for each of its war crimes, particularly for today's attack on Ukraine. This retribution will be both legal and moral. (...) We have specific names of the murderers, and nothing will protect them from justice."

The main suspect is Gen. Robert Baranov, head of the Russian General Staff's main computing center. Under his direction, this center compares the coordinates of targets received from the General Staff command with the location of civilian objects on terrain maps. "In this way, they deliberately hit objects of the Ukrainian civilian population," said Vasyl Maliuk.

Monday's tragedy may accelerate the unconditional and final lifting of restrictions on the use of Western weaponry solely within the territory of Ukraine. Kyiv emphasizes that the best air defense solution is to destroy Russian missiles, bombers, and ships still in their bases.

Destroying the Russian strike capability far behind the lines and shooting down aircraft over the territory of the Russian Federation will significantly disrupt Russian operations and save many Ukrainian lives.