Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen correspondent: An Israeli drone attacked the main road in the town of Harouf, South Lebanon.
Lebanese President: Israeli aggression on Blida took place in aftermath of meeting of ceasefire monitoring committee.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun asks Commander of Lebanese Army to confront any Israeli incursion into liberated Lebanese territory in the South.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: Israeli aircraft launch series of strikes on area of Jarmaq, South Lebanon.
Reuters: Afghanistan and Pakistan agree to restart peace talks in Istanbul.
Al-Mayadeen's correspondent in southern Lebanon: Israeli occupation forces withdraw from the Blida municipality building two hours after occupying it, and the Lebanese army enters
Pakistani army: 6 soldiers and 7 militants killed in clash near the Afghan border
Israeli media: Sirens sound in the settlement of Kerem Shalom in the Gaza envelope area
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: We still believe in dialogue and prioritize diplomatic solutions with Pakistan; though we are ready for all possibilities.
Afghan source to Al Mayadeen: Pakistan purposely obstructed negotiations in Turkey by making unrealistic demands.

Ukrainian air defenses vulnerable to winter Russian attacks: Reports

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Telegraph
  • 2 Jan 2024 08:49
4 Min Read

Kiev may need to prioritize specific targets for defense, with particular concern regarding a potential lack of missiles for the Patriot air defense systems, a report by The Telegraph suggests.

  • x
  • Ukrainian air defense vulnerable to winter Russian attacks:  Reports
    Ukrainian soldiers atop a personnel armored carrier on a road near Lyman, in the Donetsk region, on October 4, 2022. (AFP via Getty Images)

Ukrainian air defense is reportedly facing challenges in repelling all potential Russian attacks this winter due to a deficiency in interceptor missiles, as reported by The Telegraph on Monday, citing defense experts.

The report highlights that Kiev may need to prioritize specific targets for defense, with particular concern regarding a potential lack of missiles for the Patriot air defense systems.

"There will be some systems where they will have to ration their ammunition even more than they are at the moment … It could be a case that they have to just not engage some targets, because they don’t have enough interceptors to go around," Jimmy Rushton, a Kiev-based defense analyst, was quoted as saying by The Telegraph.

This comes as Russia unleashed, overnight into Friday, December 29, its biggest air attack on Ukraine since the start of the war, with an unprecedented volume of drones and missiles launched at various locations throughout the country. Simultaneously, Ukraine was overwhelmed by the attack and pleaded with Western allies to fulfill their commitment to delivering defensive missiles as pledged.

It is worth noting that Ukraine executed an indiscriminate strike on the Russian city of Belgorod on December 30, utilizing cluster-mounted Vilkha missiles and shells from a Czech-made RM-70 Vampire multiple-launch rocket system.

Read next: West using Ukraine to 'settle its problems' with Russia: Putin

Britain to send 200 air defense missiles to Ukraine

Following a series of Russian strikes, UK Defense Minister Grant Shapps stated, on December 29, that Britain would deliver roughly 200 air-defense missiles to Ukraine.

Related News

US advances Gaza security force plan amid fragile ceasefire

Trump nuclear test threat risks escalating tensions with China: NYT

Shapps posted on X that the UK was "moving rapidly to bolster Ukraine's air defense," explaining that this was done to ensure Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself ...".

The missiles would replenish Britain's air defense systems, which are "capable" of shooting down Russian drones and missiles "with incredible accuracy," according to the Ministry of Defense.

The advanced short-range air-to-air missiles (ASRAAM) made in the United Kingdom are meant to be launched from aircraft such as the Typhoon and F-35 fighter planes.

The ministry claimed that the missiles had been proven to be "very effective yet low-cost solutions to the frontline to meet urgent requirements", with a reported hit rate of as high as 90 percent against some Russian air targets.

"Ukrainian operators have become adept at their usage and have asked for more missiles to protect their country," the ministry added.

How the West is 'quietly shifting' its Ukraine strategy: Politico

Citing numerous unidentified sources, Politico reported on December 27 that the US and the EU have abandoned their goal of "total victory" against Russia in favor of a negotiated settlement that may give some territory to Moscow.

Both the White House and the Pentagon have publicly said there has been no formal change in policy. However, according to Politico's Michael Hirsh, two unidentified US government officials, including a White House spokesperson, and a European ambassador expressed that this is not the case.

Hirsh detailed that American and European officials are now "discussing the redeployment" of Ukrainian soldiers away from the "mostly failed" counteroffensive and toward a defensive posture.

He also mentioned that while US President Joe Biden used to declare he would assist Ukraine for "as long as it takes," he is now saying for "as long as we can." With new aid funds stalled in Congress, the US administration is advocating for "rapidly resurrecting" Ukraine's defense sector.

Read next: Washington redirects thousands of missiles for Ukraine to "Israel"

  • United States
  • Russia
  • Drone Attack
  • Air Defense Systems
  • Ukraine
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

'Israel’s Digital Iron Dome: Weaponizing the web against Palestine

  • Technology
  • 24 Oct 2025
Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

Arab League chief exposes secret US deal shielding 'Israel’s' nukes

  • Politics
  • 27 Oct 2025
Hi-tech holocaust: Microsoft’s role in Gaza genocide

Microsoft's role in world’s first AI-driven genocide, in Gaza, exposed

  • Technology
  • 28 Oct 2025
What Marr evidently didn't seem to understand was that Hedges isn't saying that Western journalists manipulate the truth, but that they systematically amplify Israeli narratives they know are false. (Al Mayadeen English; Illustrated by Batoul Chamas)

Western journalists know they have a case to answer for their betrayal of Gaza, and it frightens them

  • Opinion
  • 24 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
An undated photo of US Air Force personnel from the 576th Flight Test Squadron Missile Handling Team installing a cable raceway on an intercontinental ballistic missile at Vandenberg Air Force Base, California (Staff Sgt Jonathan Snyder/US Air Force)
Politics

Trump nuclear test threat risks escalating tensions with China: NYT

Displaced Palestinians walk along the coastal road near Wadi Gaza in the central Gaza Strip, moving toward northern Gaza, Friday, Octtober. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)
Politics

US advances Gaza security force plan amid fragile ceasefire

Sam Altman, co-founder and chief executive officer, OpenAI, listens to testimony during a Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation hearing, Thursday, May 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
Technology

OpenAI prepares for historic IPO targeting $1 trillion valuation

'Israel' approves illegal settlement expansion in occupied al-Quds
Politics

'Israel' approves illegal settlement expansion in occupied al-Quds

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS