Planes and drones are too distant: how Ukraine can mitigate Russia's massive assaults.

On the night of November 27 to 28, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine using various types of missiles and strike drones. This involved 188 aerial assault means, specifically:

• three S-300 surface-to-air guided missiles launched towards Kharkiv from the Belgorod region;
• 57 X-101 cruise missiles fired from Tu-95MS strategic bombers, with launch sites in the Volgograd region;
• 28 "Caliber" cruise missiles, launched from the waters of the Black Sea;
• three guided air-to-surface missiles X-59/69, launched from the airspace over the Black Sea;
• 97 strike drones of the "Shahed" type and unidentified drones launched from the regions of Kursk, Primorsko-Akhtarsk, Orel, Bryansk, and Millerovo.

According to data from the Air Forces, during the defense against the Russian attack, the following were shot down:

• 76 X-101/"Caliber" cruise missiles;
• three guided air-to-surface missiles X-59/69;
• 35 strike drones of the "Shahed" type and unidentified UAVs.

Additionally, 62 drones were lost locally.

The enemy's target has been Ukrainian energy facilities.

Strikes on airfields and "Shahed" launch points: how to counter Russian attacks

"We still lack sufficient means and miss some missiles because we cannot physically intercept them all. Moreover, we need more systems to specifically protect energy facilities during the autumn-winter period. We require saturation of systems to cover both the front and military sites, as well as critical civilian infrastructure," said Musienko.

He noted that currently Ukraine can strike the airfields from which missiles are launched, covering a range of up to 300 kilometers. To extend the range, missiles with a minimum range of 500 kilometers are needed, ideally 500-700 kilometers. The Defense Forces are also trying to target enemy facilities located deeper in the occupied territories using drones.

The enemy's capabilities can also be reduced by striking military industrial facilities in Russia where missiles and their components may be produced. Additionally, continuous collaboration with the West is crucial to ensure that partners strengthen sanctions and pressure on companies aiding Russia. This includes countries that have a liberal stance on dual-use technologies, particularly China.

How to strike enemy airbases from a distance?

Musienko emphasized that a single attack is insufficient. The most valuable assets at an airbase are the control points, such as the control tower and the equipment present. Moreover, the aircraft and munitions at the airbase are also significant. To effectively damage runways, a substantial amount of munitions is required.

"To cause severe consequences for the enemy, strikes should be made when a large number of aircraft are present. The most critical targets are strategic aviation or missile storage facilities. I do not rule out that we will see such strikes in the future," explained the head of the Center for Military-Legal Studies.

Military expert Dmitry Snegirev reminded that Ukraine has already struck enemy airfields using strategic bombers. This includes the "Engels" airfield in the Saratov region, which is about 700 kilometers from the Ukrainian state border, and "Olenya" in the Murmansk region, which is 1500 kilometers from the border.

He noted that drones are being used against these targets, although there are certain limitations in their deployment. The so-called tactical airfields of the Russian Aerospace Forces are within the reach of ATACMS, Storm Shadow, and SCALP missiles, approximately 300 kilometers away.

Furthermore, Ukraine is striking the launch sites of the "Shahed" drones. Recently, an attack was carried out on an airfield in the Kursk region and Cape Chauda. He highlighted that the Defense Forces require more powerful weapons, particularly the ongoing discussion about the potential transfer of Tomahawk missiles with a range of 1500 kilometers, Snegirev noted.

Currently, Ukrainian UAVs can hit targets at a distance of about 2000 kilometers, but the warhead of the drone is relatively weaker compared to that of a cruise missile.

Shelling of Ukraine: is it possible to reduce the volume of Russian attacks?

According to Musienko, it is possible to lessen the impact of attacks, as the volume depends on the availability of aircraft and missiles to Russia. To reduce the number of aircraft, strikes must be made to destroy them. The enemy does not produce strategic aviation, so every lost aircraft is a loss that cannot be compensated. He also emphasized the importance of sanctions to limit Russia's access to the missile component technology market and to strengthen Ukrainian air defense.

Snegirev is convinced that the volume of enemy attacks can be reduced with the help of Tomahawk missiles, as this would allow for fire control over virtually all strategic aviation airbases.

"Aircraft that are en route to strike are outside the range of the Ukrainian air defense system. Although there have been positive instances where we managed to set ambushes using Patriot systems. However, again, the Patriot has a range of 120 kilometers. This presents certain limitations, and the Russians have drawn conclusions and now avoid entering the range of Ukrainian air defense, striking from a safe distance," the expert explained.

Dmitry Snegirev reported that yesterday marked the 25th anniversary of Ukraine transferring its 11 strategic bombers to Russia. This includes the Tu-160 and Tu-95MS. According to a 1999 agreement, Kyiv handed over approximately 600 X-55 missiles and strategic bombers to Moscow, significantly reducing Ukraine's ability to adequately respond to such missile strikes.

"Moreover, we settled this for the gas consumed, amounting to 275 million, although the actual value of both the aircraft and the munitions is ten times greater. This is the main reason why we cannot respond adequately. If we had the same number of missiles and strategic bombers, we would be able to cover significant territories of the Russian Federation, primarily the airbases of their strategic bombers," concluded the military expert.

Recall that President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the target of the Russian strikes on November 28 was the Ukrainian energy infrastructure. He noted that the enemy used missiles with cluster munitions, indicating further escalation of the war.

During the night attack, the Russians struck a number of Ukrainian regions, including Rivne, Volyn, Vinnytsia, Sumy, Lviv, Mykolaiv, Odesa, Kirovohrad, Khmelnytskyi, Kharkiv, and Kyiv.