Russia's combined attacks are forcing Ukraine to make difficult decisions about which areas to defend with its limited number of Patriot air defense systems, the Institute for the Study of War (IWW) think tank noted, quoted by Ukrinform.
Analysts recall that on the night of May 31 to June 1, the Russian army launched its largest-ever combined attack involving drones and missiles. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, the Russians fired three Iskander-M/KN-23 ballistic missiles, four Kh-101 and Iskander-K air- and ground-based cruise missiles, as well as 472 Shahed drones.
Ukraine intercepted three Kh-101 and Iskander-K missiles, and also neutralized 213 unmanned aerial vehicles, while another 172 drones were "lost" or suppressed by Ukrainian electronic warfare assets.
The IMS experts note the fact that the Ukrainian military failed to shoot down any of the three ballistic missiles launched by Russia that night.
"Ukrainian forces are experiencing difficulties in intercepting ballistic missiles due to limited supplies of US-made Patriot air defense systems and interceptors. The IMS continues to believe that Russia's ballistic missile strikes are forcing Kiev to make difficult decisions about which areas in Ukraine to protect with its limited number of Patriot systems," the summary states.