Khatylev named the tasks of air defense in the fight against Ukrainian drones

Maneuver of anti-aircraft missile divisions and command posts is required

Ukrainian troops were unable to demonstrate any success on the front line before Zelensky’s visit to Davos. In Kyiv, they decided to compensate for failures at the front with terrorist attacks on Russian cities. Over the past two days, the Ukrainian Armed Forces have sent drones towards Voronezh, Belgorod, and Bryansk. The ex-chief of the anti-aircraft missile forces of the Special Forces Command (Moscow Air Defense District), reserve colonel Sergei Khatylev, told MK about how to effectively build anti-drone protection.

On the night of January 17, the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the Belgorod region twice. At 2:40 Moscow time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces used the Vilkha multiple launch rocket system and aircraft-type drones. Air defense destroyed seven missiles and four drones.

In the morning the attack was repeated. The Ukrainian Armed Forces fired a salvo with the RM-70 Vampire multiple launch rocket system and launched aircraft-type drones. Four rockets and two drones were destroyed.

The day before, the Russian military reported repelling terrorist attacks by the Ukrainian Armed Forces using aircraft-type drones in the Voronezh, Belgorod and Bryansk regions. In Voronezh, when a drone was destroyed, residential buildings were damaged and a girl was slightly injured. What lessons should be learned from drone attacks and shelling? Why do the Armed Forces of Ukraine carry them out, as a rule, at night?

“The strikes on Voronezh and Belgorod were carried out at night, in difficult weather conditions,” says Sergei Khatylev. – Distance from the border – 50-80 kilometers. The enemy was counting on the fact that at night the vigilance of combat duty might be reduced; usually at this time the equipment is being refueled with fuel, ammunition, missiles, many crews and crews are resting. Judging by the fact that almost all air targets were “landed”, the enemy failed to catch us.

– Why is the shelling intensified now?

– The Kyiv authorities are burning the ground under their feet. Zelensky is asking for money in Davos – at least some kind of activity is needed. The troops on the front line cannot demonstrate anything, they have no strength. So they organize terror with whatever they can.

– What conclusions should we draw?

– I have said more than once: we need more air defense systems. Fighter aircraft must be transferred to the air defense, where they have always been located before. It is necessary to recreate a full-fledged main air defense command. Today there are Aerospace Forces, but this is not the same thing.

In the western strategic direction it is necessary to deploy a layered group of air defense troops. At a minimum, it must have four S-400 anti-aircraft missile regiments and two S-350 regiments. They should include Pantsir-S1 anti-aircraft missile divisions.

Plus, it is necessary to provide comprehensive and complete support for air defense troops. NATO conducts electronic reconnaissance of our air defense. Enemy intelligence can and should be deceived. For example, a mandatory change of positions of anti-aircraft missile divisions and command posts is necessary after each firing. Engineering equipment for field-type starting positions, including embankment, etc., must be mandatory.

All this will increase the effectiveness of air defense in the western direction.