An expert explains how Russia is changing its tactics for strikes on Kyiv

This is the view of numerous experts, citing intelligence reports, according to TSN.

Military analysts note that ballistic missile attacks will increase, and the situation is unlikely to improve in the near future. This is primarily because the Russians are systematically building up their capabilities and changing their tactics.

Whereas just a few months ago the enemy was carrying out massive air strikes, deploying more than 500, 600 or 700 aircraft for the attack, everything has changed over the last two months. The Russians are now including in their air strikes only those assets which, based on the results of previous raids, they consider to be more effective. “These are ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones,” retired Lieutenant-General and military expert Ihor Romanenko tells TSN.ua.

The expert notes that the Russians are focusing on ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones, and are ramping up their production.

To free up resources, Russia is discontinuing the production of missiles such as the ‘Kinzhal’ and a number of others. They are realistically assessing the costs of their production and the problems with components. And they are concentrating on the production of ballistic missiles and jet-powered drones,” notes Romanenko.

They are deploying everything that Ukraine finds difficult to destroy. This includes the ‘Zircon’ – a hypersonic missile that can reach Kyiv in a matter of minutes. The Russians are modernising the ‘Onyx’ missiles, launching them from ground-based launchers.

Sometimes they launch X-22M cruise missiles from long-range aircraft. These are missiles designed to destroy aircraft carriers, but they are using them specifically to strike Kyiv,” explains the military expert.

Romanenko emphasises that, as the Russians are making the most of these capabilities, they are also deploying S-300 and S-400 air defence missile systems in the attacks.

According to the expert, the Russians are exceeding their annual production targets for ballistic missiles, as they can see that these are reaching their targets, whilst we have serious problems with the systems capable of intercepting ballistic missiles.

Romanenko suggested that the shelling of Kyiv, which occurs once or twice a week, will become a regular occurrence and may intensify as autumn approaches.