More anti-aircraft defense: NATO urges to protect Ukraine from Russian missiles

NATO says bolstering Ukraine’s air defense is ‘an urgent priority’ Putin’s missile barrage on Ukrainian cities boosts aid to kyiv from Western allies Supplying Ukraine with certain defense systems is a challenge that faces problems of supplyThe rain of Russian missiles against Ukrainian cities, like the one of last Monday, terrifies the civil population. kyiv begs for more help to deal with the ferocious attacks launched by Vladimir Putin this week and Western countries pick up the gauntlet. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has recently called on allies to urgently strengthen Ukraine’s anti-aircraft defense so that the country can defend itself. A day earlier, President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded that the G7 leaders speed up supplies and help create an “air shield”. How to increase, and make effective, that aid in the face of the Russian invasion has become the focus of talks that began Wednesday in Brussels with more than 50 Western countries at a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. The acquisition of anti-aircraft defense systems to shoot down missiles is a priority for kyiv and the Atlantic Alliance. Stoltenberg himself said before the defense ministers meeting on Wednesday: “The allies have provided air defense but we need even more. We need different types: short-range, long-range, air defense systems to carry ballistic missiles, missiles of cruise, drones”. Everything, with the aim of defending the Ukrainian territory “from the horrible Russian attacks against the population”, he added. Western countries agree; but they recognize that quickly obtaining more air defense systems is a challenge that is not without its difficulties. And they admit supply problems. “There is a shortage of production capacity,” a senior Western official told the Financial Times on condition of anonymity. Air defense systems to be delivered to Ukraine Germany this week delivered the first of four promised Iris-T air defense systems to Ukraine. For some experts it is the most modern that exists. Its anti-aircraft shells can hit targets at a height of 20 kilometers and at a distance of 40 kilometers. Foreign Minister Olaf Scholz has assured that a single unit could protect “an entire city” from bombing. Even the German Army does not yet have one of these complete systems. According to Der Spiegel, the first unit manufactured by the arms company Diehl Defense was destined for Egypt, which was finally transferred to Ukraine. The other three systems will arrive in the country attacked by Russia next year. The next anti-missile system to be supplied to kyiv is NASAMS. Norway will send it and it is one of the most advanced in the world (Spain also has it). It has a range of about 25 kilometers and a radar of 250. US President Joe Biden promised on Monday to continue offering “advanced air defense systems” after holding talks with Ukrainian President Zelensky. For now, Washington has promised two NASAMS surface-to-air missile systems in the coming weeks or months. Another six will arrive more in the long term. Ukraine yearns for the US-made Patriot anti-missile system, but at the moment that does not seem to be an option. Last Monday, when Moscow responded to the destruction of the Kerch bridge by launching more than 80 missiles, the Ukrainians managed to neutralize half, 43. Since the beginning of the invasion, more than seven months ago, NATO countries have supplied Ukraine with anti-aircraft defense platforms (from portable missile launchers to more complex systems); but kyiv relies mainly on its post-Soviet systems, such as the Buk and the S-300. For this reason, they demand much more sophisticated Western systems. At the beginning of the invasion, the Ukrainian president spoke with Israel so that it would provide him with the Iron Dome, his Iron Dome anti-aircraft system. However, experts consider that this, more designed to repel short-range missiles, is not appropriate for the Ukrainian conflict, reports The Economist. Moscow is attacking Ukraine with long-range cruise missiles such as Kalibr and Kh-101, Iskander ballistic missiles and Kinzhal hypersonic cruise missiles. A Russian Iskander-E missile launcher. Contributor/Getty ImagesDefending civiliansDuring the opening of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting held at NATO headquarters in Brussels, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has said that the wave of missile attacks launched by Moscow this week has exposed the “evil and cruelty” of their war. For his part, the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Marks Milley, has stated that the allies are “carefully” analyzing Ukraine’s needs after the attacks on the civilian population. Several explosions shake the center of kyiv. VIDEO: REUTERS The Secretary General of NATO has recognized the efforts made so far by some countries of the Alliance and has explained that it is “extremely important” to continue in this line after the “terrible indiscriminate attacks” against the population, civil infrastructure and the system energetic. Stoltenberg has insisted that many Ukrainian cities could be targeted for further bombing, making it necessary for the Atlantic Alliance to increase its aid to Kiev. Counter-attack by Ukrainian forces in Kherson. Metin Aktas/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images NATO leader He has also referred to the threat of the use of nuclear weapons by Putin and has stated that it has been clearly transmitted to him that this “would have serious consequences” for Moscow. And he added: “Russia knows that a nuclear war cannot be won, that it should never be fought. (…) We have not seen any change, but we will remain vigilant and continue to monitor closely because nuclear rhetoric is dangerous and reckless.” “.