Russian Air Defense Systems: Modernization Attempts and Contemporary Challenges
Amid ongoing frontline developments and internal challenges within Russia’s military defenses, Moscow continues efforts to enhance its air defense capabilities.
Analyzing recent military movements indicates that Russia, aiming to protect its strategic facilities and industrial complexes, employs a mix of outdated Soviet-era systems alongside advanced technologies, including those presented as modern.
It is noted that Russian troops combine obsolete S-300 systems with newer S-400 and upcoming S-350 ‘Vityaz’ systems, creating a facade of robust air defense.
These missile systems are deployed in major cities and around key industrial sites.
However, Ukrainian forces regularly carry out precise strikes on critical targets, demonstrating the high efficiency of Ukraine’s defensive operations.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian intelligence agencies have neutralized personnel linked to Russian OMON units involved in torture cases on Kyiv region territory.
According to Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR), the effectiveness of Ukrainian drones is confirmed by their ability to achieve numerous strikes, significantly weakening Russian military capacities.
Moreover, the volume of oil product processing in Russia has decreased by approximately 18-20%, indicating substantial disruption of supply chains.
Vadym Skibitskyi, a senior officer in Ukrainian intelligence, reports that losses in Russia’s fuel and energy sector reach around 30%, greatly impairing its ability to conduct prolonged military operations, particularly through targeted strikes on strategic facilities within Russia at distances exceeding 1500 kilometers.