Russia Changes Tactics in Attacks on Ukraine, Aiming to Exhaust Air Defense Systems — The Sunday Times
Russia is altering its combat tactics against Ukraine, seeking to deplete air defense systems, particularly American Patriot missiles, whose supplies are dwindling due to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to The Sunday Times, citing information from high-ranking Ukrainian military officials.
In recent weeks, Russia has repeatedly conducted massive daytime attacks, some lasting up to 24 hours. This strategy aims to exhaust the stocks of expensive missiles and the mobile groups responsible for intercepting them. Yuriy Ihnat, the head of the communications office of the Ukrainian Air Force Command, noted that the recent Russian assaults are a deliberate attempt to deplete air defense resources, particularly the Pac-3 missiles used in the Patriot systems, each costing around $4 million.
"They (the Russians) are conducting attacks during the day, and they are becoming longer and more exhausting. Not only are they harder to intercept because the teams are fatigued after working all night, but they also face difficulties such as blinding sunlight," The Sunday Times quoted Ihnat as saying.
These attacks are also negatively impacting Ukraine's economy, as many offices remain closed throughout the day. Since the onset of the full-scale invasion, Russia has typically launched massive drone and missile strikes at night. However, in the past month, Moscow has not only released a record number of drones against Ukraine—over 6,500 since the beginning of the war in Iran—but has also repeatedly launched hundreds of daytime strikes over the last two weeks, the publication emphasizes.
Demonstrating an attack map from April 3, Ihnat reported that, in addition to Shahed drones, the Russians are also deploying Geran decoy drones. "Since the beginning of the war in Iran, we have observed an increase in the number of attacks and a change in the flight trajectories of these decoy drones to wear down our air defense system," explained Yuriy Ihnat.
He also warned, "We are running out of Patriot missiles. If we are left without these critically needed missiles, we will be left with nothing, and the Russians will destroy our critical infrastructure," said the head of the communications office of the Ukrainian Air Force Command.
American Patriot missile stocks worldwide are rapidly depleting as Gulf countries use them to repel attacks from Iran. The administration of former U.S. President Donald Trump made it clear that it had other priorities beyond the needs of Kyiv, the publication notes.
On the morning of Friday, April 3, Russia launched a massive attack on Ukraine using strike drones and missiles from strategic bombers. The Kyiv region was particularly hard hit, with missile and drone movements also recorded in many other parts of Ukraine.
Overall, the radio-technical troops of the Air Forces reported that they detected 579 air attack means. As of 2:00 PM, air defense had shot down/suppressed 541 targets—26 missiles and 515 drones of various types: 24 Kh-101 cruise missiles; 2 Iskander-K cruise missiles; and 515 enemy drones of various types.
Thus, the situation in Ukraine remains tense, and the change in Russian attack tactics raises serious concerns among Ukrainian military and government officials.