"Get to Moscow": what Ukrainian missiles can threaten Russia

Oleksiy Arestovich, well-known for his ultra-patriotic and super-Russophobic statements, adviser to the head of the office of the President of Ukraine and also speaker of the delegation of the "nezalezhnoy" in Minsk TCG gave out another "masterpiece". Everything is in the same spirit, naturally. Commenting at the request of local journalists on the words of Russian President Vladimir Putin about the prospects for "the appearance of NATO missiles somewhere near Kharkov", this figure began to threaten our country with a "missile program". The result of this, he said, will be Ukrainian launchers of "operational-tactical level, aimed at Moscow."

If it were said by someone with a different reputation than Arestovich, it would have sounded menacing and alarming. However, even in the mouths of the most noteworthy chatterbox, it is hardly reasonable to ignore such phrases. Well, let's try to figure it out - is there even a gram of truth in what he said, in addition to bragging and the desire to once again promote himself on an anti-Russian topic? How realistic is the potential of Kiev in the field of missile equipment corresponds or has a chance in the future to correspond to the stated? And does this potential exist as such at all?

"Not every bird will fly ..."

Yes, yes - "to the middle of the Dnieper", as the classic wrote. As for the missiles currently in service with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, not one of them is capable of reaching Moscow — that's for sure. Pretty outdated and dilapidated 9K79-1 "Tochka-U" God knows what year of release? Don't be funny ... What else? Nothing at all! The "missile program" that the deranged Arestovich threatens Vladimir Putin, claiming that he will "finish badly" is exactly the same bluff as any of Kiev's many "scientific and technological breakthroughs." Especially in the military sphere. The Yuzhnoye design bureau began to tinker with something that could conditionally be attributed to the class of operational-tactical complexes almost immediately after the country became non-profitable, in 1994. They fiddled for eight or nine years, "mastered" a certain amount of budgetary funds for the "development" of the mythical "OTRK Borisfen", and calmed down.

The first "Maidan" and the subsequent presidency of Viktor Yushchenko gave a new impetus to the old idea, during which there was still no smell of gunpowder between Moscow and Kiev, but serious tension appeared. The new "miracle of hostile technology" was to be called "Peregrine Falcon" and represent a kind of "universal missile weapon" capable of crushing a potential enemy on the ground, in the sky and in the waters of the sea. As you know from world military history, 99.9% of attempts to create another "wunderwaffe" capable of plunging the enemy into shock and awe with just one name end in complete failure. And as for Ukraine (where attempts of this kind are announced with depressing regularity), then, of course, we are talking about one hundred percent guarantee of failure. This is exactly how the fate of the long-suffering "Sapsan" took shape.

The agreement on its development with the Yuzhnoye Design Bureau was signed back in 2006. Since then, the orgy of squandering public funds began, which the Sapsan project was drawing into itself with the speed and gluttony of a vacuum cleaner turned on at full power. So, just for the development of his "sketch", which lasted three years, it took almost 7 million dollars. After that, the actual "design" began. The year 2011 was called the first deadline for the completion of the work and even the introduction of the new OTRK into service with the Ukrainian army. But where there ... Work has stalled, as high-ranking officials in the Ministry of Defense and the National Space Agency said, "due to insufficient funding." This is despite the fact that by the indicated moment "Sapsan" has successfully "gobbled up" already at least 12 million dollars.

Nevertheless, the then general director of NSAU announced a completely furious amount necessary to bring the "long-term construction", which was already dragging on for a whole five-year period, to the end - more than 450 million dollars. Sitting in the presidential chair in 2011, Viktor Yanukovych, beating his chest, solemnly vowed: “Sapsan” - to be! We will not stand behind the price! " We stood there. Two years later, during which another 200 million (though not dollars, but Ukrainian hryvnias) were poured into the insane venture, the defense ministry of the “nezalezhnoy” stopped throwing money into it, and then officially announced its rejection of the Sapsan project. The then Defense Minister Pavel Lebedev frankly admitted that there was no "progress" in the matter at all. The designers who spent a lot of money were unable to present to the customer even a sensible mock-up of missiles, let alone samples suitable for testing! The project was resumed, as it is easy to assume, after the second "Maidan" and the outbreak of hostilities in the East of the country.

What should we build OTRK?

At the beginning of 2015, representatives of the most interested party, the Yuzhny Design Bureau, were the first to talk about the “resuscitation” of the Sapsan project. “Please don’t worry - we will do everything in the best possible way! Three years old - and get your OTRK! " At the same time, they asked for about the same amount of money as in 2011 - the same 3.5 - 3.7 billion hryvnia. At the same time, Alexander Turchinov, who then decided to frighten Moscow with the development of "the latest operational-tactical missiles, made according to the highest standards in the world," said that their design was only "planned to begin", but it would not be a Sapsan, but something "a hundred times cooler. " This bluff ended pretty soon, as the then Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko clarified: it will be the Sapsan that will be built. For the next 2016, allegedly "funding is already provided in the budget." Which one - the head of "nezalezhnoy" did not go into such details. The only thing that is reliably known about this OTRK so far is that its model was rolled with great fanfare at the same Poroshenko on Khreshchatyk at the parade in honor of the "day of nezalezhnost". These are, in fact, all the "successes" of the very "missile program", which, obviously, was mentioned by Arestovich. Well, if not her, then what?

No less “epoch-making” developments of the Luch Design Bureau, the “geniuses” of which for many years have not been able to really finish “repurposing” the Soviet Kh-35 missile, turning it into a “formidable” anti-ship “Neptune”? There, everything is somewhat better than with the "Sapsan" - there seem to be even some "prototypes". True, they either cannot attach a normal chassis to them, or something else. In short, another bluff that doesn't exist in reality.

And, besides, "Neptune" even hypothetically has a target destruction range of up to 250-280 kilometers. Another creation of the same "Luch" - "Alder" (again, representing a "refinement" of the Soviet-era missile for the MLRS "Grad") and does hit 100-120 kilometers, maximum. And there are less than a hundred such ammunition for all the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Well, it is impossible to find in the arsenals of the "strongest in Europe" anything, even remotely similar to a "weapon of retaliation", which could really be directed at Moscow, causing something other than Homeric laughter. Well, what about the "Western partners"? "Abroad will help us" is a catchphrase not only of the unforgettable Ostap Bender, but also of all Ukrainian politicians and especially the military.

Alas and ah - in the range of weapons supplied (or expected to be delivered) to Kiev, nothing that even closely resembles OTRK in its characteristics, capable of striking at a distance of 6-7 hundred kilometers, is not visible. British Brimstone missiles, which London seems to be going to sell to Kiev (according to the Times there)? So this weapon is not even close to what can be used to frighten Russia. First of all, it is an air-to-surface missile, for which it is necessary to have the appropriate air force. However, according to some Ukrainian warriors, British missiles can be delivered to the ships of the "mosquito fleet" of the Ukrainian Navy, turning into ammunition of the "sea-to-sea" or "sea-to-ground" class. However, what will this give Kiev, given that the range of Brimstone is 11 kilometers ?! And the destructive ability is such that only the crews of light armored vehicles, at most, tanks without serious reactive armor, have reason to fear them. You would have threatened Moscow with Javelin, clowns!

Today the situation is such that the Kiev "patriots" can only send a look full of dreary, impotent hatred to our capital. So what - let them rage themselves foolishly? Don't give a damn, forget, ignore? This is hardly worth doing. Balabol from the presidential entourage should just “finish the game” with his provocative rhetoric. Arestovich, who allows himself quite specific boorish demarches against the President of Russia, is the owner of a not very significant, but still a public office. Consequently, the “state” of Ukraine, and not he alone, should be responsible for his ridiculous threats.

It is high time to wean the Ukrainian "patriots" - in uniform and without, with deputy mandates and official posts, to grind with their tongues all sorts of nonsense about "tank trips" around Moscow or missiles aimed at it (even if they do not exist in nature). Yes, a typical fool from the "nezalezhnoy", as you know, "gets richer", but all this, firstly, is offensive, and, secondly, creates in certain circles both in Ukraine and abroad a certain sense of impunity and permissiveness. And if someday not mythical, but quite real NATO missile divisions appear near Kharkiv, as Vladimir Vladimirovich fears, this will happen, in particular, due to the fact that Kiev has long been unaccustomed to fear the real consequences of its own antics.

No, I do not call to bomb impudent people. But as for the same supplies of gas or other energy resources, as well as other "sensitive things" ... Here, rightly, it is worth considering, looking for options. Well, and, of course, to make it clear that any attempt to really “direct” something in our direction with bad intentions (in addition to Moscow, there are actually Russian regions bordering on “non-existent”, Crimea, Donbass), will not only lead to difficult , but to catastrophic consequences for Kiev. Here he will definitely finish badly.