Ukraine eyes May 9 parade as chance to hit key Russian sites
Ukraine may use the May 9 parade in Moscow to attack Russian military targets, claims expert Pavlo Narozhny, as cited by the Ukrainian agency Unian.
Ukraine might capitalize on the May 9 parade in Moscow to strike Russian military targets. Expert Pavlo Narozhny notes that Russia is reallocating its air defense systems to the capital, thereby weakening other strategic locations. In total, 280 air defense systems are being moved to Moscow. This transfer of weaponry to the Russian capital occurs at the expense of weakening the defense of other areas.
Moving air defense systems
Russia plans to relocate 280 air defense units to Moscow, potentially compromising the protection of other important military installations. Narozhny emphasizes that this gives Ukraine the chance to attack "exposed" targets such as arsenals or military bases.
- If they pull out 280 systems of various ranges, it means something will be exposed somewhere. This indicates that somewhere they will withdraw these systems from combat. And that means it will be an opportune moment for us to strike purely military targets, such as arsenals, military units, and airports, Narozhny enumerates.
Additionally, the expert stresses that Ukraine has the technical capability to conduct attacks on military targets within Russia, even near Moscow. One example is a previous strike on a Russian arsenal located about 43 miles from the capital, which demonstrates the effectiveness of Ukrainian drones.
Narozhny also highlights that even the mentioned 280 air defense systems do not guarantee full protection of Moscow. - Moscow is a vast area, and such a number of systems may be insufficient - he adds. He also notes that Russia lacks equipment not only for the defense of Moscow but, more importantly, for the entire country. He estimates that to cover their entire territory, the Russians need more than 1,000 S-300 and S-400 units. - At best, they have 200 such systems, claims Narozhny.
Russian air defense systems
Experts do not specify which particular units the Russians are deploying to Moscow, but it is likely that the popular S-300 and S-400 systems, currently in front-line use, are included. The S-400 system is notable for its ability to simultaneously track up to 80 targets and direct 160 missile launches. It can attack objects within a radius of up to 249 miles and at altitudes of up to 19 miles. This system is effective against both aircraft and ballistic missiles.
Meanwhile, the S-300, despite being based on older technology, still plays a vital role in air defense. It is capable of monitoring 100 targets simultaneously and can attack targets located at a maximum distance of 124 miles and at altitudes of up to 17 miles. The S-300 missiles reach speeds of up to 5,000 mph.
