Russia Adopts New Tactics in Missile Attack on Ukraine
On the night of July 10, Russia conducted a large-scale missile and drone attack on Ukraine, employing a new tactic that involved the use of a single strategic bomber and ultra-shortwave communications during missile launches, making detection more challenging, reports 24brussels.
Monitoring resources indicate that, typically, Russian aviation utilizes encrypted communication on short waves to coordinate missile launches. This method has previously allowed for precise tracking of launches. However, on this occasion, they transitioned to ultra-short waves, complicating detection.
Ultra-short waves are characterized by their shorter range and direct line propagation, meaning they are effective only within line of sight. While this allows for clearer communication with fewer obstructions, it requires proximity to ground stations.
The “eRadar” resource noted a significant shift to the “single” use of strategic aircraft instead of mass sorties. This night, a Tu-95MS was utilized for the mission. Nonetheless, no claims regarding undetected missile launches were mentioned.
“To start, all necessary ‘services’ were well aware of the Tu-95MS being in the air and were even more informed about the launches of cruise missiles, as confirmed by personnel on-site. If Telegram channels were unaware, it does not signify that the launches weren’t recorded,” the authors of the channel stated.
This tactic of using just one strategic bomber for the attack was not the first instance of the night. Russians had employed similar methods the night before; however, single aircraft missile launches had previously been extremely rare.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, during the attack on July 10, Russian forces targeted Ukraine with 397 Shahed-type strike drones and various imitation drones, eight Iskander-M ballistic missiles, six X-101 cruise missiles, and four S-300 surface-to-air missiles. The main focus of the assault was Kyiv. As a result, confirmed strikes were reported in eight locations, with debris from intercepted missiles landing in 23 areas.
