U.S. officials are encouraging Ukraine to continue developing innovative ways to target Russian forces as the conflict enters its third year. However, the recent use of a Patriot missile by Ukraine to shoot down a plane highlights the potential risks and rewards of unconventional battlefield tactics.
According to U.S. officials, the Russian aircraft targeted by Ukraine may have been carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war, a fact unknown to the Ukrainian military at the time of the attack.
The Patriot missile, typically used for defensive purposes, was provided by a European partner and was not intended for shooting down planes. The incident occurred on Jan. 24 when the Patriot interceptor hit a Russian cargo plane, as reported by American officials.
Russian officials claimed that the aircraft was transporting 65 Ukrainian prisoners of war who were to be exchanged for Russian service members.
While American officials have not publicly commented on the incident, they have privately confirmed the use of a Patriot missile. The identities of the passengers on the plane have not been confirmed, but it is likely that some of them were Ukrainian prisoners, according to U.S. and Ukrainian officials.
If indeed there were prisoners on the plane, American officials expressed regret over the loss of life.
Ukraine’s decision to target the plane was based on flawed intelligence, but it was driven by the plane’s history of transporting missiles, making it a high-value target for Kyiv, according to Western officials.
While the Patriot was fired from Ukraine, the cargo plane crashed in Russia. American officials have encouraged Ukraine to strike within its own territory to avoid escalating tensions with Russia.
Despite the incident, U.S. officials have not criticized Ukraine for using the Patriot system to target Russian aircraft. Instead, they see it as an example of the innovation needed to change the dynamics of the war.
Last month, American military planners met with Ukrainian counterparts in Germany to discuss new tactics to break the stalemate in the conflict.
One concern is the sustainability of operations involving Patriots, especially if further military aid from the U.S. is cut off. Each interceptor costs $4 million, and without American funding, Ukraine’s air defense capabilities could be strained.
Originally designed to target aircraft, the Patriot was later modified to strike tactical ballistic missiles after the Gulf War.
Ukrainians have…
2024-02-08 14:37:14
Post from www.nytimes.com