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An expert explained why it is difficult to destroy ballistic missile launchers in Russia

An expert explained why it is difficult to destroy ballistic missile launchers in Russia

Ewa Slastnova
Ewa Slastnova

journalist

An expert explained why it is difficult to destroy ballistic missile launchers in Russia
Russian ballistic missile "Iskander" Russian Ministry of Defense

Anatoliy Khrapchynskyi, director of development at a defense contractor and a reserve Air Force officer, explained why it is difficult to strike ballistic missile launchers located on Russian territory.

This is discussed in a "Shelter" article titled "Ballistic Defense in Winter: Will Ukraine's Own Missiles or an American License Help?"

Khrapchynskyi noted that it takes about 20 minutes to deploy the system, and that the Russians are constantly changing their launch sites and operate primarily at night.

He explained that detecting a threat within such a short time window requires not conventional reconnaissance drones or standard satellites, but SAR satellites and specialized tools. 

Khrapchynsky added that carrying out such strikes is also difficult due to a lack of weapons and intelligence data. 

In addition, Russian launchers are usually hidden in underground bunkers, which Ukrainian weapons simply cannot reach.

Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that destroying Russian launchers would help reduce attacks on Ukraine. According to him, the military knows they need to do this, and they will do it.

  • Author

    • Ewa Slastnova
      Ewa Slastnova

      journalist

      She studied at the School of Journalism at the Boris Grinchenko Kyiv Metropolitan University, majoring in "International Journalism." She worked at NV for three years.

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