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More on the "massive" cruise missile attack on Kiev: the target appears to have been infrastructure in the Shevchenkivskyi district using X101 missiles fired from Tu-95 and Tu-160 bombers over the Caspian Sea. Reports noted the Russian attack was an attempt to “show off” their capabilities. Not so much it seems. X101 cruise missiles were touted as possessing highly advanced guidance systems. Previous exploitation of them by western intelligence demonstrated 70's level circuitry and circuit boards. Typical Russian propaganda that boasts of a fearful, modern Russian army (see DSL's comments above) until pants are pulled down.
Open-source Twitter account GeoConfirmed noted that Russian forces likely fired the missiles from the maximum possible range, to avoid intercepts of the bombers by Ukrainian aircraft. That would have interfered with GPS and radar correlation and resulted in the strike missing intended targets by wide margins which appears to have been the case. Dumb missiles fired at long range into a 25 or so square-mile box hoping to hit something useful. That may or may not have happened. We do know this:
GeoConfirmed also stated that the strikes targeted the general vicinity of the Artem State Joint-Stock Holding Company, a manufacturer of air-to-air missiles, automated air-guided missile training and maintenance systems, anti-tank guided missiles, and aircraft equipment. Russian forces likely targeted the Artem Plant as a means of posturing against Western military aid to Ukraine during the G7 summit. Putin may have postured but he also managed to inflict damage to residential infrastructure. While he probably doesn't care about that, that's what the open media is focusing on with photos and video - part of the information space war being waged.
Obviously, there are no reports of damage to the intended target - the Artem Plant - and were not likely to get that. That kind of content is going to get censored by Ukraine.
Open-source Twitter account GeoConfirmed noted that Russian forces likely fired the missiles from the maximum possible range, to avoid intercepts of the bombers by Ukrainian aircraft. That would have interfered with GPS and radar correlation and resulted in the strike missing intended targets by wide margins which appears to have been the case. Dumb missiles fired at long range into a 25 or so square-mile box hoping to hit something useful. That may or may not have happened. We do know this:
GeoConfirmed also stated that the strikes targeted the general vicinity of the Artem State Joint-Stock Holding Company, a manufacturer of air-to-air missiles, automated air-guided missile training and maintenance systems, anti-tank guided missiles, and aircraft equipment. Russian forces likely targeted the Artem Plant as a means of posturing against Western military aid to Ukraine during the G7 summit. Putin may have postured but he also managed to inflict damage to residential infrastructure. While he probably doesn't care about that, that's what the open media is focusing on with photos and video - part of the information space war being waged.
Obviously, there are no reports of damage to the intended target - the Artem Plant - and were not likely to get that. That kind of content is going to get censored by Ukraine.
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