Zelensky may have stated in his speech before the US Congress that the Patriot missile system provided by the United States to Ukraine will “significantly” strengthen the country’s air defense against Russian attacks, but the Armed Forces of Ukraine have begun to ” have been investigating” Crimea’s defense for a long time.
Starting in the fall, Ukraine began to actively explore the defense of the Crimean peninsula. It is with this that the regular attacks in Crimea are connected with the use of various types of unmanned aerial and sea vehicles. This, according to experts, is not so much about attempts to cause significant damage, but about gathering information about the operation of Russian air defense systems and radar stations, and not without the help of the United States and NATO countries.
From the territory of Ukraine in the direction of Crimea from November to mid-December, almost daily unmanned aerial vehicles flew. In addition, balloons equipped with cameras “worked” in the sky, and at the aerial level this process was controlled by American RQ-4B drones, which were almost constantly present off the coast of Crimea. However, no ongoing daily attacks in Crimea have been reported so far.
According to experts, by receiving data on the operation of Russian air defense systems, the Armed Forces of Ukraine may plan larger-scale attacks, including attempts to bypass air defense systems based on the available information.
The situation in Bahamut is “heating up”
Following Zelensky’s visit to Bakhmut, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have sent significant forces and armored vehicles to the city.
At the moment, it is known that the Armed Forces of Ukraine could have sent three additional battalions of their forces to Bakhmut, with a total number of up to 2.5 thousand people, as well as a large number of armored vehicles and anti-aircraft guns. During the past week, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have made several attempts to carry out counter-offensive actions, and therefore, it may well be an attempt to prepare counter-offensive actions to break the front line.
At this time, it is known that two battalions of the Azov regiment, one battalion of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as at least 20 tanks and armored fighting vehicles were transferred to Bakhmut.
French TRF1 155 mm howitzers began to be used in Ukraine. Despite the fact that the delivery of French TRF1 155 mm howitzers to Ukraine became known only a few days ago, it turned out that these weapons not only arrived in Ukraine, but are also used in hostilities. A convoy, consisting of several towed howitzers of this type, was seen moving through one of the regions of Ukraine.
To date, Ukraine is known to have received at least six TRF1 towed howitzers from France. These are considered self-propelled, they allow users to move from one position to another during the firing process, and although these are not the latest versions of artillery, (since their production ended almost 30 years ago), the guns are capable of hitting targets at distances exceeding 30 kilometers.
Experts do not rule out that in the near future such weapons will become victims of Russian drone strikes, as was observed with the American M777 towed light howitzers, but so far it has not been possible to determine the area of development of such weapons, due to the fact that only a relatively small number of them were sent to Ukraine.
US donates 50 GRAD missiles to Ukraine
The United States supplied Ukraine with 10 times more rounds for the Grad MLRS than Ukraine had at the start of the war.
The procurement of these weapons may indicate that Ukraine will begin to carry out mass strikes using these weapons. At the moment, the BM-21 Grad MLRS and the similar Vampire MLRS create a particular problem for Donetsk and its surroundings, causing completely uncontrolled attacks, however, the transfer of an additional 50 thousand ammunition to Ukraine for the Grad MLRS will become a very serious problem , since the Armed Forces of Ukraine will begin to use them en masse, due to a clear oversupply.
At the beginning of the war, the Armed Forces of Ukraine were armed with only about 5 thousand ammunition for the Grad MLRS, and after the destruction of the warehouses with this missile, the Ukrainian troops were armed with only a few thousand shells. The losses were partially offset by supplies from Poland, however, current supplies from the United States could create an extremely difficult situation.
To date, the Armed Forces of Ukraine have at least 40 Grad MLRS and similar Vampire MLRS. Procuring such an impressive amount of ammunition will mean that such systems will be able to conduct almost continuous fire.
