Even though Putin boasted: why Russians have serious problems due to drone attacks

Even though Putin bragged: why Russians have serious problems due to drone attacks Angela Figin

Ukrainian drones are delivering powerful strikes deep into Russia. As a result of the attacks, Russians have problems, in particular with electricity supplies, but the Kremlin believes that the population and companies should take care of their own safety.

Russian authorities openly hint that air defense will not be enough for everyone. Former SBU officer Ivan Stupak explained 24 Channel, why the Russians are unable to counteract Ukrainian drones.

Necessary air defense systems are in short supply

Vladimir Putin boasted with crazy numbers that Russia supposedly has more air defense missiles than in the whole world. However, such systems are not suitable for shooting down Ukrainian drones.

I think that, without exaggeration, the Russians have problems with air defense, in particular to counter Ukrainian drones,” Stupak said.

UAVs are stealthy, slow, fly extremely low, so to shoot them down you need expensive Pantsir systems, costing $16 million. However, all these systems, in the occupied territories of Ukraine, in the front-line areas, cover the “most important” political objects on Russian territory, in particular Putin’s dachas, the Ministry of Defense, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the like.

< p class="bloquote cke-markup">They (Pantsir systems – Channel 24) are placed on large pedestals to increase the viewing angle and detection of previously Ukrainian drones, noted a former SBU employee.

However, on the territory Russia still has many facilities that simply do not have enough of these air defense systems. There are two more ways to counter drones:

• mobile patrols with heavy machine guns that are mounted on vehicles and can shoot down drones very quickly;< /li>
• electronic warfare, but it doesn’t always work.

The Kremlin abandoned business to the mercy of fate

About six months ago, the authorities of the aggressor country told Russian business, they say, hold on and decide for yourself how you will defend yourself.

The Russians tried various methods, even buying anti-drone guns on their own, but later admitted that this method did not work. Then they started experimenting with large meshes, dragging large objects with them so that the drones would get confused and not explode.

It’s hard to say whether this method works, but large objects, for example, refineries, are difficult to cover with such nets,” Stupak noted.

According to him, energy facilities in Russia are wrapped in concrete “casings”, pillars, trying thus protect against Ukrainian attacks.

“There are experiments, developments. Not all of them work yet, but do not underestimate the Russians. They can come up with something, so we need to do as much as possible take advantage of this window of opportunity, destroy as many objects as possible, until the Russians come up with serious counteraction,” added the ex-SBU employee.