In the second part of the review devoted to Ukraine, several readers in the comments expressed a desire to familiarize themselves with the location of Ukrainian anti-aircraft systems as of 2016. For example, sibiralt writes:
"It would be nice to look at the" schemes "for the placement of Ukrainian air defense systems not for 2010, but for 2016".
And although in the previous publication, the air defense system of Ukraine, its state and prospects are described in sufficient detail, going to meet the readers, we will try to analyze what changes have occurred with the deployment of air defense systems, air defense systems, radars and fighter aircraft in the "Square" over the past two years. At the same time, it should be said that after the start of the armed conflict in eastern Ukraine, information regarding the Ukrainian air defense system is subjected to strict censorship in this country, and information on movement, deployment and combat readiness in the Ukrainian media is presented in a distorted form.
The monitoring of the activity of Ukrainian anti-aircraft systems, without any doubt, is carried out by the relevant structures of the countries that have a common border with Ukraine and our "partners" in NATO. So it can be recalled that after October 4, 2001, an anti-aircraft missile of the Ukrainian S-200 air defense missile system shot down a Tu-154 of Siberia Airlines, which was flying on the Tel Aviv-Novosibirsk route, the next day, American representatives made public information about the cause of the death aircraft. With a great deal of confidence, it can be argued that our overseas "partners" reliably know who is responsible for the destruction of the Boeing 777 on July 17, 2014 in the east of the Donetsk region of Ukraine. But intelligence services and defense departments of other states, at whose disposal there are data from radio, satellite and agent intelligence, for various reasons, are in no hurry to share them with the public. In this regard, we will have to use open sources such as the media and Google earth satellite images.
After the start of the "anti-terrorist operation" in the Luhansk and Donetsk regions, many observers noted the strengthening of the air defense group in the southern and eastern parts of Ukraine. Until the spring of 2014, in these areas, the decommissioning of S-300PT divisions near Kharkov, Dneprodzerzhinsk, Dnepropetrovsk and Nikolaev was observed. At the same time, the S-300PS air defense systems deployed near Chernogrigorovka, Kherson and Odessa were on alert in a truncated composition.
Satellite image of Google earth: positions of the C-300PS of a truncated composition near Odessa
However, due to the general degradation of the air defense system, this was typical for the Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile units deployed in the central and western regions. So on satellite images of 2015, it is clear that the number of S-300PT air defense missile systems covering Lviv has decreased. The S-300PS near the Gostomel airfield, which defended Kiev from the north-west, is absent from its positions, although in 2013 it was still there. In this case, two options are possible, it is likely that this plant was relocated closer to the ATO zone, or the equipment was sent for refurbishment and minor modernization.
As already mentioned in the second part, at present, the long-range air defense systems S-200 of all modifications and the military air defense systems S-300V, due to extreme wear and the impossibility of maintaining them in a working condition, have been taken out of service. Stationary complexes S-200V are subject to decommissioning and disposal, and S-300V on a tracked chassis were transferred to storage at the base in the vicinity of the Stryi airfield in the Lviv region. In part, although to a lesser extent, this also affected the military air defense systems "Buk-M1". But unlike the S-300V in Ukraine, it was possible to repair the hardware of the "Bukov" and extend the service life of the 9M38M1 missile defense system. According to Almaz-Antey, Ukraine, as of 2008, had about 1,000 9M38M1 missiles, and consulted on the extension of their service life and modernization.
Thanks to the modernization carried out at its own enterprises and the extension of the 9M38M1 air defense missile system by 7-10 years, the Ukrainian armed forces still have at least four combat-ready Buk-M1 air defense missile systems divisions. In 2014, the Ukrainian armed forces had four regiments armed with these complexes. One 108th airborne brigade previously deployed in the town of Zolotonosha in the Cherkasy region was in the process of reorganization, and its equipment was most likely transferred to other units or sent to repair enterprises. According to information published in the Ukrainian media, the headquarters of the 156th anti-aircraft missile regiment was located in Avdeevka, in the vicinity of Donetsk (military unit A-1402). The 156th ZRP formally had three Buk-M1 battalions, each of which consisted of three batteries (9S18 M1 Kupol target detection station, command post, self-propelled gun mounts and launchers). Initially, the divisions were located in Avdeevka, Lugansk and Mariupol. But by the beginning of the conflict, not all the equipment of the 156th air defense unit was serviceable and on the move. The Ukrainian military had to abandon faulty vehicles. On June 29, 2014, the DPR press service announced the transfer of the territory of the air defense unit in Avdiivka under the control of the militias, where they managed to capture the target detection stations and the launch-loading unit. However, the representative of the NSDC, Andrei Lysenko, the next day, confirming the fact of the transfer of the unit under the control of the rebels, said:
By the decision of the commander, all equipment was disabled and does not work, the militants only have territory left, they also occupy the headquarters of the air defense unit. The captured air defense system is non-operational.
According to the Ukrainian military expert Aleksey Arestovich, all serviceable equipment, including self-propelled firing installations, had been removed from the A-1402 unit in Avdeevka two months earlier.
It is worth recalling that at the referendum on the status of Crimea held on March 16, 2014, more than 95% of the population of the peninsula voted to join Russia. In this regard, most of the personnel of the Ukrainian air defense units stationed in the Crimea swore allegiance to Russia. At that time, three Ukrainian S-300PS divisions were deployed in Crimea.
Layout of Ukrainian S-300PS air defense systems and radar posts on the Crimean peninsula
Control of the airspace in this area until March 2014 was carried out by Ukrainian radar posts, in total there were a dozen P-18, P-19, P-37, 36D6, 5N84A radars on the Crimean peninsula. In the area of Cape Fiolent, several Kolchuga radio reconnaissance stations were on alert. After the annexation of Crimea to Russia, the media reported that the Ukrainian S-300PS stationed on the territory of the Crimean peninsula and part of the equipment of radio engineering units was returned to Ukraine. In connection with the loss of radar posts in the east and southeast of Ukraine, several modernized radars P-18, P-19 and 36D6 were deployed along the line of demarcation between Ukrainian units and militias from the DPR and LPR. At the same time, the Ukrainian military took into account the bitter experience of destroying several radars at the beginning of the armed confrontation and placed new stations outside the zone of artillery and mortar fire.
The layout of Ukrainian air control systems (blue and blue figures) and anti-aircraft missile units on the territory of Ukraine as of mid-2015.
As can be seen in the presented diagram, the bulk of the Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile units are deployed in the central, eastern and southern regions of the country. Obviously, this deployment of air defense units reflects the views of the Ukrainian top military-political leadership about the main military threats to Ukraine. Changes in the placement of anti-aircraft weapons began almost immediately after the change of power in Ukraine. In April 2014, two Buk-M1 battalions from the 156th air defense missile regiment moved to the Melitopol region to deploy an air defense zone on the border with Crimea.
In the summer of 2014, not far from the combat zone on the Slavyansk-Kramatorsk line, the Ukrainian ground forces covered more than 20 self-propelled missile launchers of the Buk-M1 air defense missile system of the 11th air defense regiment (Shepetivka, Khmelnytsky region) and 223rd air defense regiment (Stryi, Lviv region) … Also Ukrainian "Buks" were seen in the Donetsk region in the vicinity of the city of Soledar and south-west of the village of Zaroshchenskoe. In addition to medium-range air defense systems in the zone of armed conflict, Ukrainian near-zone air defense systems “Osa-AKM” and “Strela-10M” have been repeatedly spotted. However, it is not clear from whom they were supposed to protect the Ukrainian troops, because, as you know, the DPR and LPR do not have military aviation.
The Ukrainian S-300P air defense systems, in contrast to the military complexes, were not seen in the immediate vicinity of the ATO zone. However, observers note that several S-300PS divisions have been deployed near Odessa, Kharkov and Kherson from the western and central regions of Ukraine. Some of the complexes were repaired before at the enterprises of "Ukroboronservice".
Satellite image of Google earth: the position of the S-300PS in the vicinity of Novaya Kakhovka
In the summer of 2014, serious changes also took place in the deployment of Ukrainian fighter aircraft. At the aircraft repair factories in Zaporozhye and Lviv, intensive work is underway to commission the fighters that were in storage. At the airfields of Vasilkov, Ozernoe, Mirgorod and Ivano-Frankivsk, only the forces on duty remained. Most of the Ukrainian Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters in flight condition have been relocated to the central and southern regions of Ukraine.
Satellite image of Google earth: aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force at the airfield in Nikolaev
An unprecedented number of combat aircraft in 2014 were deployed at the airfield in Nikolaev, a short distance from the border with Crimea. Satellite images of that time show that there were 40 Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters here - this is practically the entire fighter fleet of the Ukrainian Air Force. The airfield parking lots were literally packed with planes, and all of them stood openly outside the shelters, which made aviation equipment very vulnerable to rocket and artillery shelling and air strikes. Judging by the color of the aircraft, which can be observed on satellite images, the most combat-ready fighters are currently based in Nikolaev, which have recently undergone refurbishment, equipped with new communication and navigation means. Until 2014, only Su-25 attack aircraft and L-39 training aircraft were deployed at the airport in Nikolaev. Now, in addition to fighters, front-line bombers Su-24M, anti-submarine Be-12 and military transport Il-76 have been added to them.
Satellite image of Google earth: Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters at the airfield in Nikolaev
The concentration of military aviation and air defense assets near the border with Russia indicates that the Ukrainian authorities are seriously preparing to "repel Russian aggression", which of course does not contribute to the normalization of relations between our countries. Despite the fact that the state of the Ukrainian economy is deplorable, and the external debt continues to grow, Ukraine continues to spend money on preparations for war.
The Republic of Moldova
After the division of Soviet property, Moldova got the equipment and weapons of the 275th Guards Anti-Aircraft Missile Brigade (military unit 34403) and the 86th Guards Red Banner Fighter Aviation Regiment (military unit 06858). Before the collapse of the USSR, the 275th Guards. Zrbr and 86th Guards. IAP provided cover from NATO air strikes of important strategic and industrial facilities on the territory of Moldova and southwestern Ukraine (South Urainsk NPP, Odessa and Ilyichevsk seaports, command and control center of the 43rd RA Strategic Missile Forces), as well as the cities of Odessa and Chisinau.
In the 86th Guards. IAP based at the Marculeshty airfield had 32 MiG-29 fighters of modifications 9.12 and 9.13 and 4 combat training MiG-29UB. Having received combat aircraft at their disposal, the Moldovan authorities almost immediately used them in the interethnic internal conflict. With fighters of the 86th Guards. iap inherited by Moldova is associated with a tragic incident. During the armed conflict in Transnistria on June 22, 1992, several MiG-29s tried to bomb the bridge over the Dniester, but the bombs hit the village of Parcani, destroying several houses. As a result, several civilians were killed and injured. It should be said that these actions were not supported by all the servicemen of the fighter aviation regiment, which became Moldovan. In the spring of 1992, several officers made an attempt to organize a flight of fighters to the Tiraspol airfield, but it failed.
The MiG-29 of the Republic of Moldova stopped flying over Transnistria after the Russian military intervened in the armed conflict. On June 26, 1992, a pair of fighters, hiding behind passive interference, tried to bomb the oil depot in Tiraspol, but this attack was stopped by the air defense of the 14th Guards Combined Arms Army. Apparently, the Osa-AKM air defense missile system was used. One fighter was hit by an anti-aircraft missile at an altitude of about 3000 meters. After that, there were no more air raids on objects in Transnistria. Subsequently, servicemen of the 14th Army reconnaissance company, during the raid "on the other side", reached the place where the plane crashed and brought the wreckage identified as a fragment of the MiG-29 antenna.
MiG-29 of the Air Force of Moldova
It soon became clear that a small agrarian country was not able to maintain modern fighters in flight condition. In Moldova, there were no funds for the purchase of spare parts and the payment of decent salaries to pilots and technical personnel, and most of the MiG-29s, which were not old at that time, were pinned to the ground. After that, the Moldovan authorities followed the path of Ukraine, starting the sale of military property inherited from the Soviet army. In 1992, one MiG-29 was transferred to Romania. At the same time, the amount of the transaction was not disclosed, it was only said that the plane was ceded "at the expense of Moldova's debts to Romania for the assistance provided during the 1992 military conflict." The fate of this machine is vague, a number of experts reasonably believe that the 9.13 modification fighter could have gone to a completely different country. After 2 years, four more MiG-29s were sold to Yemen, there is information that before that the fighters were repaired in Ukraine. Iran has also expressed interest in Moldovan MiGs. But in 1997, 21 aircraft (of which only 6 were in flight condition) were sold to the United States. According to official statements of American representatives, the purpose of this deal was to prevent the supply of modern aircraft to Iran. But in the end, MiGs suitable for flight ended up in American test centers and in the Aggressor units. The continuation of this story followed in January 2005, when the former Minister of Defense of Moldova Valeriu Passat was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The prosecution managed to prove that as a result of the deal to sell MiGs, the state lost more than $ 50 million.
Satellite image of Google earth: airplanes and helicopters of the Moldovan Air Force at the Decebal airbase
The remaining 6 MiG-29s in Moldova are currently unable to take off due to the unsatisfactory technical condition. They tried to sell them several times. At the last auction, they asked for only $ 8, 5 million for all the fighters, but no one was willing to buy the MiG, and the auction was canceled. According to representatives of the Ministry of Defense, in the absence of interest from potential buyers, the price of aircraft can be reduced by up to 50 percent.
Currently, the Air Force and Air Defense of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova has two military bases: the Decebal Air Base - Marculesti, Floresti District and the Dmitry Cantemir Anti-Aircraft Base - Durlesti, Chisinau. At the Decebal airbase, aircraft that are not in flight condition are stored and a few Moldovan military transport and training aircraft and helicopters are based.
In January 1992, after the collapse of the USSR, the 275th Guards was transferred to the armed forces of the Republic of Moldova from the 60th KPVO. zrbr (control, 2 zrdn S-200V, 3 zrdn S-75M3, 2 zrdn S-125M1, 2 zrdn S-125M, tdn-200, tdn-75, tdn-125). In the late 80s, not far from the village of Straseni, the only S-300PS anti-aircraft missile system in Moldova was deployed. But later, the newest air defense system at that time went to Ukraine. The S-300PS positions near Straseni are now abandoned and overgrown with bushes, but the park for equipment and the residential town are still in use. In 2016, joint maneuvers of the Moldovan armed forces with NATO units took place in this area.
In 1992, the 275th Guards. ZRBR was renamed "Dmitry Cantemir" and began to carry out combat duty. At that time, more than 470 people were serving in it and there were 12 S-200V long-range air defense missile systems, 18 C-75M3 medium-range missiles, 16 C-125M / M1 short-range missiles. But the reduction of equipment and personnel soon began. The first to be written off were the C-75M3 air defense systems, it was not possible to find information regarding their fate. But it is known that in neighboring Romania, with which Moldova has close ties, complexes of this type are still in operation. Perhaps the Moldovan "seventy-five" became "donors" of spare parts for the Romanian air defense systems. One way or another, but after a few years in Moldova, one C-200V and one C-125M1 remained in service.
Layout of air defense systems and air monitoring devices on the territory of the Republic of Moldova
The last S-200V missile defense system near the village of Denchen was removed from combat duty in the second half of the 90s. Long-range complexes, which were very costly and difficult to operate, whose range covered the entire territory of the country, turned out to be an overwhelming burden for Moldova. Soon after the abandonment of the C-200V, the C-125M1 air defense missile system deployed nearby went to the storage base. Satellite images show that elements of anti-aircraft missile systems are still stored on the territory of a military unit in this area, but they are not destined to return to service in Moldova.
SAM C-125M1 in position in the vicinity of the Bachoi airfield
According to information published in open sources, at present, the sky of the Republic of Moldova is protected by one C-125M1 air defense system belonging to the anti-aircraft missile regiment "Dimitrie Cantemir". As the number of personnel, equipment and weapons was reduced, the status of this air defense unit, the only one in Moldova, was downgraded from a brigade to a regiment. Which, however, is still redundant, given the fact that in fact there is one capable S-125M1 in the air defense missile system. The only low-altitude air defense system deployed in the vicinity of the Bachoi airfield near Chisinau. The control of the airspace of Moldova is carried out by four separate radar companies, which are armed with the P-18 and 36D6 radars. Most of the radar stations were built in the USSR, and their technical condition leaves much to be desired. In this regard, there is no constant control of the air situation over the republic, which creates the preconditions for violation of the air border by neighboring states.
Satellite image of Google earth: the position of the C-125M1 air defense missile system near Chisinau
Considering the terms of operation in Moldova of the S-125 air defense system and the 5V27D air defense missile system, the lack of information about the restoration of the hardware of the complex and the extension of the missile life, it can be assumed that their combat effectiveness is low. This is confirmed by the fact that practical launches of anti-aircraft missiles of Moldovan air defense systems have not been carried out for more than 10 years.
Recently it became known about the sale of three С-125М1 belonging to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Moldova for a symbolic amount of 660 thousand dollars to the company S-Profit LTD. The owner of this company is Australian citizen Ian Taylor, known for questionable deals on the supply of weapons to "hot spots". Apparently, Ukrainian representatives are also involved in this deal. S-Profit LTD was seen in the fraud with the supply of S-125 air defense systems to South Sudan and Uganda, and its accounts were used to withdraw the profits of the state-owned company Ukrinmash, which trades Ukrainian weapons around the world. According to the scheme uncovered in Ukraine, Ukrinmash did not sell weapons immediately to the buyer, but through S-Profit LTD at a reduced price, which, receiving super-profits, resold the weapons to the end consumer. With a high degree of probability, it can be assumed that the former Moldovan air defense systems S-125, after repair and modernization at Ukrainian enterprises, will end up wherever in Africa.
Nevertheless, until recently, the servicemen of the anti-aircraft missile regiment “Dmitrie Cantemir” regularly participated in military parades in Chisinau. Where in the parade, together with other equipment, transport-loading vehicles PR-14-2M with 5V27D anti-aircraft missiles were demonstrated. In addition to the only C-125M1 anti-aircraft battalion, the armed forces of the Republic of Moldova have a small number of Igla MANPADS, 28 twin 23-mm ZU-23 anti-aircraft artillery mounts and 11 57-mm S-60 anti-aircraft guns. In general, the air defense capabilities of the Republic of Moldova are practically at a zero level and are of a decorative nature. The air defense systems at the disposal of the Moldovan military are not only incapable of repelling modern combat aviation, but are not even able to ensure control of the airspace over the country in peacetime.
