© ANATOLII STEPANOV / AFPA Ukrainian soldiers fires a missile with a man-portable air-defense system during exercises
The Ukrainian Air Force's chief spokesperson, Colonel Yury Ignat, told the outlet that his air defense units usually fire two S-300 or Buk missiles at every Russian projectile to raise the chances of interception. This poses certain challenges, however, since it is impossible for Ukraine to procure additional missiles for these systems, which are produced in Russia. Meanwhile, finding the available stocks elsewhere has proven difficult, the report says.
Ignat went on to state that while Kiev is receiving modern air defense systems from its Western backers, Ukraine would need "hundreds" of such weapons to replace its aging arsenal.
"We have no other choice but to switch to these types of weapons since the Soviet weapons of the [19]70s and [19]80s are both... obsolete and the enemy is exhausting them every day," he said.
Russia started targeting Ukrainian energy facilities in early October after accusing Kiev of attacking its critical infrastructure, including the strategic Crimean Bridge. The latest wave of Russian missile attacks came on December 5 after Ukrainian drones targeted Russian airfields in Saratov and Ryazan Regions, killing three service members and injuring four others.
Kiev has repeatedly asked Western countries to supply it with air defense capabilities. On Monday, the Group of Seven (G7), which includes Kiev's most prominent Western backers, signaled that they plan to put "an immediate focus on providing Ukraine with air defense systems."
However, on Sunday, the EU's foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said that the bloc's security assistance to Kiev had depleted its stockpiles. The US is apparently experiencing the same issues, with CNN reporting last month that the Department of Defense is running low on some advanced weapons systems and munitions to give to Kiev.
Moscow has repeatedly warned the West that arms shipments to Ukraine would only prolong the conflict. Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the West had de-facto turned Ukraine into "a colony" and is using Ukrainians "as cannon fodder" and a battering ram against Russia while supplying Kiev with weapons.
Reader Comments
In an ideal world we could say, "yes- just put the toys away boys and let's all just get along together; in peace and harmony".
But we don't live in that world and war is the default when one party decides they have had enough of the agressors and have to do something about it.
This is what the Russians have chosen to do. God knows they tried in the international courts (UN).
Fell on deaf ears. Many reasons why. Main one would be US and their UK cousins want to destabalise Russia because the Russians just aren't playing ball.
It's all about control. Always has been and always will be.
He who controls the game controls the outcome.
His[story] is on the side of the winners. In for a penny in for a pound.
If you don't agree with war then refuse to focus on the propagander.
Get on with your own reality realm and soak up the view millions of miles from the drama.
To say they "have" would entail that ordinary people are fully informed by their own governments media representation, education system, which is simply not true.
Governments are a fraction of each countries population and historically show a over-reprisentation of one specific demographic that have international (no boarders or named areas) loyalty.
The war was never demanded by ordinary Russians, it was pushed by a person who everyone here seems to want to now deny has loyalties to the WEF, which every government has representation for.
This helps create the illusion that national loyalties still play a part in this very fragile and soon to come crashing down narrative.
Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Boris Johnson....are they really about helping the English? Is Zelensky helping Ukrainians? did the Canadian get behind Trudeau? is Putin any better than a Nazi in a white coat holding a syringe? You can "narrative" it all around the Internet if you think you will escape your own judgement, sure, why not deny duel loyalties like Jewish or Freemasonic or WEF, keep pretending people are the sum of their overlords, keep pretending Jews must be representative of the common man or woman who has loyalties to basic life requisites, just remember your game will finish with only one winner, the truth.
The truth cannot be destroyed, sure it can be obfuscated temporarily but it will ultimately win in the end. The nice thing to know is that in the end "all liars" will suffer a dire outcome and so it is always up to the individual to make his choice. The "scatterer" will continue to shout Wolf from his respected worldly channel, while the gatherer uses truth to win his brother.
The game is set as in cast in stone, like we are on a holodeck.
We live in a construct made up of mathematical ontologies.
Lots of rabbit holes on this holodeck. The holosphere is like a Mandelbrot set on steroids. The holographic nature of our universe points us towards a constructed reality.
We have to learn how to play the game. The stage is set, curtain raised now all you have to do is find the fun!
It's a fucken good ride if you ask me. Lots of bullshit distractions, suffering, pain and misery.
As they say misery loves its own company best.
Try to stear away from those mother fuckers!
They don't know how to laugh at themselves.