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If Ukraine Had Enough Hrim-2 Missile Systems, Russia Would Not Have Dared To Invade – Air Force Spokesman

A top Ukrainian Air Force official has said if Ukraine had possessed more Sapsan operational-tactical missile systems, it could have thwarted Russia’s occupation of its territories, potentially altering the course of the conflict.

Yuriy Ihnat, the spokesperson for Ukraine’s Air Force, highlighted in an interview that the Sapsan missile system, also referred to as Hrim-2, would have enabled Ukraine to strike vital Russian military installations with ease effectively. 

The spokesperson regretted the delayed development of the Hrim-2 (Sapsan) missile system, referring to it as a potential “missile spear” that could have inflicted significant damage on Russia.

He suggested that the mere presence of such a weapon might have been enough to deter Russia’s aggression without deploying it.

“If Ukraine had a sufficient number of Hrim-2 (Sapsan) operational-tactical missile systems, we’re not sure if Russia would’ve dared to occupy Crimea and other territories,” he said. 

According to the Ihnat, the Hrim-2 (Sapsan) operational-tactical missile systems, with their range of 300-500 kilometers, would have had the capability to destroy Russian airfields and cause significant losses to Russian troops as they advanced towards Ukraine’s borders.




An example of Grom-2 transporter-erector-launcher: Wikimedia

The statement made by Ukraine’s high-ranking Air Force official underscores the necessity for long-range missile systems capable of targeting Russian positions.

Kyiv faces a significant challenge on the battlefield as important Russian military assets, particularly in occupied Ukrainian territories, including Crimea, remain largely untouchable to Ukrainian strikes.

Moscow has extensively utilized its numerous military installations in the region, such as the Sevastopol port, which houses its Black Sea fleet, and the Saki air base, to carry out missile strikes and support its ground forces in Ukraine. 

In response, Kyiv has been attempting to target these bases primarily through air and naval drone attacks. 

While the United States has not provided Kyiv with ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) to enable strikes across Crimea, the United Kingdom has supplied Ukraine with air-launched long-range Storm Shadow missiles.

But, experts believe that the presence of a capable domestically developed missile weapon system, in significant numbers, would serve as a powerful deterrent against Russian forces and provide the war-torn country some level of assurance for the success of its counter-offensive operations. 

Recently, the Ukrainian defense minister expressed optimism about Ukraine’s potential for producing long-range missiles with a range of 1,000 kilometers or greater. 

He stated that once Ukraine demonstrates the capabilities of its long-range missiles against enemy forces, Western countries would be inclined to supply ATACMS with long-range weapons.

As an example, the Minister highlighted the success of the Ukrainian Neptune anti-ship missile project, which resulted in the sinking of the Russian cruiser Moskva. He noted that Ukraine’s allies decided to provide Kyiv with Harpoon missiles shortly after this accomplishment.

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