Ukraine runs out of anti-aircraft missiles after Russian airstrikes.
Ukrainian air force officials have officially confirmed a serious shortage of anti-aircraft missiles, describing it as a major challenge for the country's military.
According to the TASS news agency.Information about Ukraine experiencing a shortage of anti-aircraft missiles was confirmed by Yuriy Ignat, spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force, on state television channel Rada.
Mr. Ignat stated that the Ukrainian army is facing a severe shortage of interceptor missiles. In response to this reality, the Kiev authorities have repeatedly expressed concern about the dwindling ammunition stockpiles for existing air defense systems. Simultaneously, Ukrainian leaders have continuously appealed to their Western allies to increase aid and expedite the delivery of the necessary weapons.
The statement from Ukraine comes amid reports from Russia of a long-range precision strike that destroyed numerous military-industrial facilities and critical energy infrastructure in Kyiv.
According to a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense, in response to attacks by the Kiev authorities on civilian infrastructure, the Russian armed forces conducted a major airstrike on the night of July 5th and the early morning of July 6th. This operation utilized a combination of long-range precision weapons launched from the ground, air, and sea, along with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The attack resulted in the disabling of numerous defense industry enterprises and facilities in the energy and fuel complex in Kiev and the surrounding area. Simultaneously, infrastructure at military airfields in the Dnepropetrovsk, Poltava, Cherkassy, and Chernigov provinces also suffered significant damage.
Specifically in Kyiv, Russia announced that the Kyiv-71 industrial plant, belonging to Abris PT, had been hit. This is a key facility of Ukraine's defense industry, specializing in the research and manufacture of medium- and long-range reconnaissance drones such as Strela, Mara, and Avenger, as well as the Shrike-10 first-person view drone system. Telemetry and electro-optical equipment are also produced at this facility.
In addition, the Kiev-1 radio-electronic equipment assembly plant, part of the Burevestnik plant, also suffered the same fate. This facility played a crucial role in the production of drones and the development of air defense radar systems for the Ukrainian army. Another target destroyed was the Kiev-79 industrial plant of the Ukr armo tech company. This was a major supplier of armored vehicles, protective armor components, and warheads for various types of missiles.