Air defence is powerless against rocket artillery, it must be destroyed on the ground – Air Force of Ukraine

VALENTYNA ROMANENKO – SUNDAY, 7 AUGUST, 10:39

The front-line cities suffer from the Russian rocket artillery strikes; [the artillery equipment] should be destroyed in the places where the fire originates.

Source: Yurii Ihnat, spokesman of the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, comments made live on the "Kyiv" TV channel on 7 August 

Quote from Ihnat: "The front-line cities (Kharkiv, Dnipro, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia) suffer primarily from rocket and tubed artillery attacks. This is also what cases the activation of  the air-raid sirens, when there is information about attacks from the territory controlled by the Russian troops, by Grad [self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launchers], Smerch [heavy self-propelled 300 mm multiple rocket launchers], Uragan [self-propelled 220 mm multiple rocket launchers] MLRS. 

People also perceive it as a missile attack, although it is rocket artillery, against which, unfortunately, air defence is powerless."

Details: Ihnat clarified that anti-aircraft missile complexes cannot shoot down such targets either, an anti-aircraft missile is designed to shoot down different air targets, while Grad pack (40 tubes) reaches target within a few minutes.

The Air Force spokesman emphasised that it is necessary to destroy the Russian forces more decisively at the origin of these strikes. To do so an increase in arms supplies from international partners is required.

Reminder: 7 August is Ukrainian Air Force Day.

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