ISW Report: S-400 Fails To Recognize SCALP Or Storm Shadow Missiles Striking Novocherkassk Large Landing Ship
37- 27.12.2023, 11:35
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American analysts have revealed new details of the brilliant operation.
On December 26, Ukrainian forces destroyed the large landing ship Novocherkassk of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, and may have damaged port infrastructure in occupied Feodosia. The American Institute for the Study of War (ISW) writes about this in a report dated December 26.
Geolocated footage shows that the Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked the large landing ship Novocherkassk, as a result of which its biggest part caught fire and sank.
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that the Novocherkassk suffered “damage” while “repelling” the Ukrainian strike. Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Colonel Yuriy Ihnat said on December 26 that the Ukrainian strike may also have damaged surrounding port infrastructure and other nearby Russian support vessels.
The only Defense Force missiles that can strike at significant distances are the SCALP or Storm Shadow, he said.
He also noted that the Russian Armed Forces use various short-, medium- and long-range air defense systems, so Ukrainian pilots have to resort to special tactics to ensure the maximum number of strikes on the target.
A certain Russian military correspondent said that units of the 31st Air Defense Division, which use the S-400 air defense system in Feodosia, were unable to detect two Ukrainian cruise missiles.
British Defense Minister Grant Shapps, commenting on what happened in Feodosia, noted that over the past four months the Ukrainian Armed Forces have destroyed 20% of the Black Sea Fleet. ISW believes that Ukrainian attacks on Black Sea Fleet facilities forced the Russian Federation to permanently move ships to the eastern part of the Black Sea.
Important to note, during the attack on the Novocherkassk vessel there were 77 sailors on board.
It was also reported that, according to some sources, during the attack on the bay in Feodosia, in addition to the Novocherkassk large landing ship, another ship sank.
