During the course of yesterday, the head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, asserted that the Russian Armed Forces had deployed one of their most modern air defense systems, the S-500, in Crimea. The alleged deployment is said to be aimed at enhancing the protection of the Kerch Bridge, which connects the Russian region of Krasnodar with the peninsula, making it a highly relevant target for potential attacks by Ukrainian military forces.
This would presumably be the first time this type of platform is deployed in combat, as previously the S-300 and S-400 systems were responsible for defending the area and were frequently targeted by Ukrainian air defense suppression attacks. Regarding the latter, the Ukrainian Armed Forces General Staff reported two bombings this week that succeeded in destroying radar systems, one S-400 platform, and two S-300 systems, increasing the need for Russian troops to replenish and enhance their air defense capabilities.
Following this line, Budanov’s statements took place: “The Russian air defense system is strengthening (…) This is quite obvious and understandable. The newest elements of the S-500 have appeared. In principle, this will be their experimental application, but they have already appeared there [in Crimea]. The Kerch Bridge is always used, and as long as it is there, it will be used.”
It is worth remembering some aspects of the S-500 system, also known as Prometheus, among which its high capabilities to counter long-range ballistic missile attacks (an estimated range of 600 kilometers according to official reports) should be highlighted, thus becoming the natural replacement for the old A-135 systems. The Russian Ministry of Defense showcased it in action for the first time with a video published in July 2021, as part of a series of tests conducted in the area known as Kapustin Yar in the southern part of the country. Additionally, the recently displaced Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu announced at the end of April that the S-500 system would be put into service before the end of the year.
Furthermore, it is important to note that the potential deployment of an S-500 battery in Crimea occurs in a context where Western countries have authorized the use of armaments supplied to Ukraine to conduct attacks on Russian territory. This includes the United States, which at the end of May gave its approval in this regard to counter the Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region, and the Netherlands, which at the beginning of this month authorized the use of its F-16 fighters without any restrictions.
*Images used for illustrative purposes
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