Ukraine's General Staff has provided some notable details in today's operational report. The highlights of the use of ballistic missiles and aircraft allows to have an overview of how russian army uses various types of missile attacks in Ukraine.
Defense Express analyzed the attacks with the use of "Tochka-U" ground-based missile systems, Ka-52 attack helicopters and Su-25 air support jet aircraft.
Read more: Russians "Save" Aviation, Actively Use Old Soviet Kh-59 and Tochka-U missiles at the Frontline
The main focus of russian efforts is still on eastern Ukraine. The invaders try to disable the Ukrainian logistics system in the east and establish full control over the city of Severodonetsk. According to the report, on June 4, russians fired four "Tochka-U" tactical ballistic missiles (NATO reporting name is SS-21 Scarab). The missiles hit areas near Bakhmut, Kramatorsk, Kostiantynivka and Lysychansk:
In addition, some long-range airstrikes were launched at the cities of Sloviansk and Soledar.
As a reminder, "Tochka-U" is a Soviet-era ballistic missile. It has a relatively short firing range – 70-120 km – if compared to the modern ballistic "Iskander" and cruise "Kalibr" missiles. This disadvantage makes russians deploy them into Ukraine's territory and fire from there.
Ka-52 attack helicopters struck the following settlements: Hirske, Yakovlivka, Myrna Dolyna, Berestove and Klinove:
And then we have Su-25 air support jets that launched attacks on Ustynivka, Novomykhailivka, Marinka, Kamyanske.
When we look at them all together, we can see the trend: the aircraft units try not to enter the Ukrainian-controlled airspace too much. It was explained by Defense Express's sources in our previous coverage – the russians began to use their planes and helicopters only in the directions of the main strike.
Meanwhile, in the secondary areas, they try to be careful with air raids. Instead, the occupiers carry out long-range attacks with air-launched cruise missiles or "Tochka-U" tactical ballistic missiles. The reason is they fear of Ukrainian air defense.
In the operational report, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces also warns that russians continue to spread information. They claim that Ukrainian military units are stationed in schools, hospitals and churches. But that is made only to justify the destruction of civilian objects on the territory of Ukraine, just as the invaders did with the Sviatohirsk Lavra monastery.
"The occupiers know exactly which object is being shelled," said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the issue. "They know that there are no military targets on the territory of the Sviatohirsk Lavra. They know that there are about 300 lay people hiding from hostilities in there, including 60 children. But still, the Russian army shelled the monastery, just as the rest of Donbas. Just as any other territory and any other object of Ukraine that they can reach. They don't care what to turn into ruins."
Read more: How to Distinguish Between russian and Ukrainian UAVs in the Sky (Photo Comparison)
