How Putin's army conducts reconnaissance in Kyiv: experts commented on new strikes on the capital

After the missile strike on Kyiv on May 31, military experts discuss whether there is a pattern to these attacks and if there is a "formula" used by Putin's army for striking the capital.

Former spokesman for the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, military expert Vladyslav Seleznyov, and military-political observer of the "Information Resistance" group, Oleksandr Kovalenko, shared their views on the situation in an interview with TSN.ua.

"I believe that the actions of the enemy forces should be considered as a completely rational approach. The enemy carries out strikes on those objects where reconnaissance and preliminary reconnaissance have been carried out. That is, they act according to the "formula": they reconnoitered – they struck," Vladyslav Seleznyov explains.

He continues: "If we talk about the border area, it concerns our border, our Kharkiv. There, first and foremost, they kill civilians, trying to create an atmosphere of chaos in the region, forcing civilians to move to other regions of our country. This is done to create public tension."

Seleznyov adds: "As for strikes on Kyiv, the enemy knows about the powerful air defense system and seeks ways to bypass it and hit those targets that are extremely important to them. Obviously, today's missile and drone attack aimed to achieve this. I don't think they used drones for reconnaissance. They had a distracting function, so the air defense operators focused on them. Let's recall – there was the first air raid alert during which our mobile groups were shooting down "Shaheds", then there was a strike by an "Iskander-K" missile. Why wasn't it a massive attack? Perhaps because this decision by the Russian occupiers was the most rational. We must understand that the Russian army still has a significant stockpile of missiles and the capability to manufacture them."

In summary, Seleznyov says that Kyiv, like many other cities, is at risk.

"Undoubtedly, it is an unpleasant trend if the enemy starts hitting with "Iskanders" from the Kursk region. Thus, our Kyiv is at risk, so we should not neglect air raid signals," the expert notes.

How the enemy conducts reconnaissance in Ukraine

Regarding this issue, Vladyslav Seleznyov expressed the following opinion: "There is an idea that 90% of intelligence information is gathered from open sources. This means the internet, media publications, and so on."

According to Seleznyov, the enemy has many other reconnaissance tools.

"Of course, the Russians have agents. From time to time, the SSU reports about those who wait and spies acting in the interests of Russia. There is satellite reconnaissance, there is aerial reconnaissance. From time to time, not only in the border regions but also in Kyiv region and other central regions, enemy reconnaissance drones are detected. The enemy seeks various ways to obtain verified intelligence. There can be no illusions here. Information is considered verified if it is confirmed from various sources: satellite and aerial reconnaissance, agent reports. There cannot be a single source. We must consider this," the expert says.

No a "formula", but to cause panic

Military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko has a somewhat different opinion regarding the shelling of Kyiv.

"In fact, there is no specific formula. It is absent," Kovalenko asserts.

According to him, the Russian occupiers understand quite well that Kyiv has a reliable defense system.

"And, let's say, they can break through by using a large number of either ballistic or hypersonic missiles. That is, they can direct a large number of "Iskanders" or simultaneously launch a large number of "Kinzhal" missiles. They won't be able to do this because they have fewer "Kinzhal" carriers than we have Patriot launchers.

So, for every "Kinzhal", there will always be a Patriot. I am talking about the launchers that protect the airspace over Kyiv," the expert says.

He adds: "The systematic shelling of Ukraine’s territory – they have been using a systematic approach for about one and a half to two weeks. This is related to the accumulation of ammunition and preparation. The last time there was a short pause – from May 26 to May 30. Given that they used a limited number of Kh-101 missiles. For example, on May 26, they used 12, and on May 30, they used 11. This is a limited ammunition supply, but the use was more frequent. Given this trend, they might revert to what happened in May-June 2023. They tried to conduct shelling every 2-3 days with a small amount but a combined nomenclature".

Summarizing, the expert says: "Regarding this time's strike on Kyiv. Launching an "Iskander-K" aeroballistic missile, which can be intercepted by almost the entire range of our air defense systems, likely aimed to cause panic and keep the population in a state of anxiety. It was clear that it would be shot down."

Read also:

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• The Russians hit a residential building in Kharkiv with a missile: what is known so far (photos)

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• Loud explosions in Kyiv: what is known about the aftermath of the missile attack (photos)