Ukrainian drones reshape Crimea's defensive landscape

Ukrainian drones are successfully attacking Russian air defence systems in Crimea. According to military expert Pavlo Narozhny, these actions may signal more intensive attacks on deeper areas of the peninsula. For the Russian armed forces, Crimea plays a crucial role as a logistics base, making it a strategic target.

- Recent Ukrainian attacks have been quite successful. They might be a prelude to the next, more powerful strikes deeper into Crimea, when fuel and ammunition bases will be destroyed. However, even the destruction of the air defence systems themselves is a blow to the enemy - Narozhny claims.

Narozhny emphasises that Ukrainian drones have destroyed many costly Russian systems, such as radars and missile complexes. The Russians have difficulties defending against these small but effective devices. The production of new defence systems is costly and time-consuming, which further weakens Russian capabilities.

Let's recall that the significant region of Crimea for the Russians has long been protected by numerous air defence systems. The local army has previously deployed S-500, S-400, S-300, and Pantsir-S1 systems in the area to guard against air threats. The first of them, the S-500 Prometheus, has the capability to intercept targets at a range of up to 595 kilometres. It is designed to combat ballistic and hypersonic missiles, providing an advanced response to contemporary air threats such as aeroplanes, helicopters, and drones.

On the other hand, the S-400 is distinguished by its ability to simultaneously track up to 80 targets and guide 160 missiles. It can destroy objects up to 400 kilometres away, at altitudes up to 30 kilometres. This system is adapted to combat both aeroplanes and ballistic missiles. Meanwhile, the S-300, although based on older technologies, still serves as an effective anti-aircraft defence tool. It can track up to 100 targets simultaneously and destroy them at a range of up to 200 kilometres, with a maximum altitude of 27 kilometres. S-300 missiles reach speeds close to 8,000 kilometres per hour.

The Pantsir-S1 combines artillery and missile systems. It is equipped with 30 mm calibre cannons that can fire up to 2,500 rounds per minute, destroying targets within a radius of 4 kilometres. Its missile section contains 12 launchers capable of striking objects at a distance of up to 19 kilometres and an altitude of up to 14 kilometres. This system includes two radars that are used for detection and targeting.