Kyiv’s mobile air defenses have enough ammunition to withstand a few more powerful attacks but then will need more Western aid, said a senior military commander on Wednesday. Late last year, Russia launched its largest missile and drone attacks since the early days of the invasion and again on Tuesday bombarded the capital and the second-largest city of Kharkiv, killing five and injuring dozens.
“The current situation with man-portable air defense systems for mobile air defense groups is that there is enough ammunition to withstand the next few powerful attacks,” according to Sergiy Nayev, commander of the joint forces of the armed forces of Ukraine. But in the medium and long term, the country will need help from Western countries to replenish the missile stock,” he stated.
Kyiv says the latest attacks underline the need for Western allies to speed up delivery of air defense equipment, combat drones, and long-range missiles. Soldiers in an air defense unit protecting Kyiv showed off the mobile weaponry they used to down Russian missiles and drones in the latest strikes.
Russia has recently used a new tactic. Roman, a soldier who operates a “Stinger” anti-aircraft weapon, recounted how he and his team downed two cruise missiles on Tuesday using a US-supplied portable system and a ZU-23 anti-aircraft gun.
