the anti-aircraft defense system destroys up to “nearly 85%” of Russian projectiles

They are the guardian angels of kyiv, Ukraine. But they operate far from the capital, around fifty kilometers, in fields, mainly at night. “The objective is to arm the rocket as quickly as possible. Our targets in the sky are moving quickly so we too have to work quickly. And there, in principle, I am ready to fire,” explains Figuevam, a railway worker before the war and today the operator of a small American-made missile launcher. His “Stinger” is attached to the back of an armored 4×4 driven by his comrade Pepsi. Both are part of a mobile unit that tracks projectiles at night.

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Because Russia has been launching missiles and drones almost every night for months on Ukrainian territory. In September, for example, Moscow sent nearly 250 missiles and 750 drones into the country to terrorize the population and destroy the country’s infrastructure. Most of these projectiles are destroyed by anti-aircraft defense.

“The more targets we hit, the more we progress”

When a projectile approaches Kiev, Figuevam and Pepsi have ten minutes maximum to reach the firing position. “I locate the target by ear and with the naked eye, for example a missile. When I have spotted it, I aim the sight, my rocket tells me that the target is locked. And I fire.”

At the moment, it is mainly drones and missiles that occupy the nights of Figuevam. “The adrenaline at the moment of the shot, it invades you, explains the soldier. And then you realize you saved lives. When you can’t destroy a projectile, especially a ballistic missile, psychologically, it’s difficult because you understand that you can no longer do anything and you feel responsible for that. It torments you…”

Since the start of the war, the mobile groups of this anti-aircraft defense regiment have shot down 400 targets in the Ukrainian skies. “The more targets we hit, the more we progress. And unfortunately, we have more and more experience, indicates Vitaly, a second lieutenant in this regiment number 1129. Our mobile anti-aircraft defense groups are a novelty.”

“Before, the systems were more fixed, they were installed in positions. But, with this war in Ukraine, the strategy has changed so we have to innovate.”

Vitaly, second lieutenant

at franceinfo

“I can say that we succeeded in bringing down almost 85% projectiles, welcomes Vitaly. This is a very good result considering the amount of missiles and drones the Russians are sending.” Thanks to military equipment provided by Western allies, the Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense system is one of the most effective in the world.