The war in Ukraine has now entered a new phase, that of the country's Armed Forces going on the offensive to liberate its territory from Russian invaders, with Storm Shadow missiles playing a pivotal role.
The Ukrainians are asking to be given ATACMS
However, they are not sufficient by themselves in order to achieve the desired result, according to the representative of the Air Force of Ukraine, who, according to an article by an international media reputable in defense matters, raises the issue of ATACMS acquisition by his country, pointing out:
On Saturday, June 24, it was relatively calm in Ukraine. There were no mass rocket attacks across the country that day, but the Russians used various types of weapons during isolated bombings.
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Κουλέμπα σε Στόλτενμπεργκ: «Ήρθε η ώρα για σαφήνεια» σχετικά με την ένταξη της Ουκρανίας στο ΝΑΤΟ
In particular, the enemy used the S-300 SAM system to launch surface-to-surface missiles to bombard Zaporozhye.
To counter such enemy strikes, Ukraine needs ATACMS missiles to destroy Russian launchers, Yuriy Ignat, a spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said in a statement on the air of the national telethon Edyny Novyny.
The spokesman said that Ukraine needs ATACMS missiles, which have a range of up to 300 kilometers, noting that these missiles can be launched using the HIMARS system.
The representative of the Air Force of Ukraine pointed out that these missiles leave no chance for the enemy, as they are able to destroy command centers, ammunition depots and other targets at great depth.
The contribution of British "Storm Shadow" missiles to operations
He also pointed out that the Ukrainian forces already have long-range "Storm Shadow" missiles in their arsenal, which have shown good results.
"We have long-range missiles in the form of Storm Shadow cruise missiles, which have given us positive results.
Disruption of the enemy's logistics routes is the key to our success, in addition to air superiority.
Ukrainian pilots quickly and effectively destroyed Russian armored phalanxes at the beginning of the major invasion through airstrikes.
Today aviation and long-range weapons are vital for Ukraine.
The missiles we have in our arsenal with the longest range are the Tochka-U missiles. Their range is 120 kilometers, and we still use them.
However, Russia has Iskander-M missiles as well as hypersonic Kinzhal missiles," Ignat said.
Ukrainian soldiers destroy Russian IFV BMD-4M using kamikazi drone
At the same time, the extensive use of kamikazi drones continues on both sides of the war targeting enemy tanks, THUMB-THUMB.
In a video shared on June 26, 2023 by "Ukraine Weapons Tracker" via their Twitter account, it was revealed that the Ukrainian Armed Forces successfully destroyed a Russian BMD-4M, according to International Media which notes:
This sophisticated amphibious Russian TOMA is considered one of Russia's most modern military vehicles.
The strike took place in the Donetsk region, an area of intense conflict.
The strike took place in the Donetsk region, an area of intense conflict.
Ukrainian forces used locally-made unmanned munitions for the operation, underscoring their experience in using improvised military technologies.
These drones, often referred to as suicide drones, represent a unique class of weapon systems.
They are designed to engage or attack enemy targets either by self-destruction or by delivering a payload such as a grenade or mortar round.
The appeal of these locally produced kamikazi drones lies in their cost-effectiveness and wide availability.
Standard civilian drones, unlike traditional military hardware, are affordable and readily available, making them an attractive platform for improvised weapons systems.
Additionally, the technical barrier to modifying these drones to carry small munitions is relatively low. With a certain level of technical knowledge and resources, these drones can be turned into effective weapons.
This gives Ukrainian military forces the ability to launch targeted strikes or inflict casualties without investing in high-cost weapons or advanced technology.
The Russian TOMA BMD-4M amphibious vehicle
The BMD-4M is the latest generation of Russian-made amphibious infantry fighting vehicles designed for airborne deployment.
It is the latest version of the BMD-4, which comes from the lineage of the BMD-1, a series of infantry fighting vehicles used extensively by the Soviet Union.
The BMD-4M offers improved protection, improved mobility and significant firepower for airborne units. Its design allows it to be dropped from the air alongside paratroopers, providing immediate armored protection and powerful firepower in a compact form upon landing.
The BMD-4M's main armament is a 100mm cannon that doubles as a rocket launcher. This gun/launcher provides the BMD-4M with the ability to engage a wide variety of targets, including enemy tanks and fortifications, at significant range.
In addition to the main gun, the BMD-4M is equipped with a 30mm autocannon and machine guns, providing significant firepower against infantry and light vehicles.
The vehicle is also highly maneuverable, being light enough for airborne operations, yet robust and maneuverable for various terrains. It is amphibious by design, giving it the ability to cross water obstacles without any preparation.
The BMD-4M is therefore a formidable fighting machine that provides airborne forces with significant combat capabilities immediately after landing.
However, like all armored vehicles, it must balance armor protection, firepower, and mobility to achieve its design goals.
Conclusion
It follows from the above that the combined use of STORM SHADOW together with ATACMS if the latter are given to Zelensky, will enable the Ukrainian Armed Forces to implement their plan, which now aims to cut off or at worst degrade the Russian Ground "Lines of Communication" (GLOC) between Crimea and the Kherson region.
In this way, the Ukrainians will attempt to deprive the Russian forces of their supply of significant amounts of fuel and ammunition, which are wasted in military operations.
It is something similar to what our country will be able to achieve by striking in the event of a military conflict with Turkey, hitting important fixed targets in the Turkish ports of the Asia Minor coasts, denying the possibility of repairs and supplying ammunition and fuel to the Turkish fleet in the Aegean.
Finally, the extensive use of improvised kamikazi drones costing a few hundred euros by the Ukrainian citizen-soldiers, combined with the destruction of the state-of-the-art Russian TOMA BMD-4M by them, should be a qualification for a similar move by our country by including the manufacture and use of improvised kamikazi drone in the context of Palaic Defense.
