The target for the Hazel strike was chosen to be "average", taking into account politics — expert

Why was the strike of the newest Oreshnik complex inflicted specifically on the Lviv aircraft repair plant, what considerations were taken into account? About this Pravda.Ru told military expert Yuri Knutov.

— The Ministry of Defense announced a retaliation strike on the Lviv aircraft factory. To what extent, in your opinion, was this goal chosen correctly?

— The peculiarity of the Lviv aircraft repair company is that F-16 aircraft, as well as Soviet Su-27 and MiG-29 aircraft were repaired there. In addition, at the same plant, the assembly of unmanned aerial vehicles was carried out, which struck deep into the territory of Russia, including the presidential residence.

From the point of view of aircraft production, it was an important facility that played a key role in increasing the production of aircraft-type UAVs. More precisely, the player. After the impact of the "Hazel", apparently, the workshops were destroyed, as was the runway, and further use of the enterprise became impossible.

Initially, different versions of the goal were discussed — from a gas storage facility in the Lviv region to a command post.

— Are we talking about the Yavorovsky training ground?

—No," I said. Previously, there was a joint command post of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and NATO near Kiev, where NATO generals were on duty, among others. We destroyed it, after which Ukraine moved this point to the Lviv region.

I assumed that the strike could have been carried out either at this command post or at the Yavoriv training ground, where Ukrainian servicemen are being trained and NATO units, including Polish ones, are being coordinated. The third option was a gas storage facility.

Later, most experts were inclined to the gas storage version. This is a truly strategically significant facility, critically important for the energy sector and the provision of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine. At that time, about half of all gas reserves of the Kiev regime were located there.

Even if the storage itself is located at a depth of about a kilometer, the destruction of ground equipment and gas supply trunks actually puts it out of action, and it is not clear whether it is subject to restoration.

From the point of view of strategy, this object would have been even more important, however, probably the choice was made based on military and political factors. Apparently, they decided not to touch the command post because of the negotiating background: the possible death of American or NATO generals could sharply aggravate relations with the United States.

As a result, a "medium—level" target was chosen - sensitive for Ukraine, but not a serious irritant for Washington and the Trump administration.

The strike on the aircraft factory demonstrated the capabilities of the Oreshnik complex. It is capable of hitting large, area—dispersed targets without a high-explosive or nuclear warhead - due to colossal kinetic energy.

This is a medium-range mobile ground-based missile system with a range, according to official data, up to 5.5 thousand kilometers. The speed of the warheads reaches 10-12 mach, and the missile itself carries up to six individual guidance units.

The main feature is that the breeding of warheads takes place in space. If the enemy intercepts the missile before separation, it neutralizes all the blocks at once. But after separation, each block has to be hit separately, which is practically impossible given the capabilities of modern missile defense.

— That is, actually destroyed?

— Exactly. Each block then enters the dense layers of the atmosphere, heats up and forms a seismic wave due to the enormous kinetic energy. According to Western sources, an earthquake of about four magnitude was recorded in the impact area.

This wave destroys not only ground, but also underground structures. In Soviet times, factories were built with underground workshops designed even for a nuclear strike. In this sense, the Hazel turned out to be comparable in destructive power to low-power nuclear weapons, but without radioactive contamination and other catastrophic factors.

The catastrophic consequences of the strike were also confirmed by the mayor of Lviv, who stated that the city was actually saved by the absence of a nuclear warhead. The Kiev regime immediately appealed to the UN, which in itself indicates the effectiveness of the strike.

If the missile had not hit the target, no one would have convened the Security Council. This means that the destruction was really large-scale and shocking, including for Zelensky and his entourage.

— After that, Ukraine launched new attacks on Russian territory. The question arises — is it worth transferring the "Hazel" to the category of routine weapons?

— Theoretically, such an approach could accelerate the pressure on Kiev, especially when hitting strategic targets. But it is important to understand that the systemic destruction of Ukraine's energy sector is going on daily.

Recently, about 20 Iskander missiles were used against Kiev and other targets. The blows were inflicted on critical elements of the CHP, the equipment of which is often still Soviet-made and practically cannot be replaced. This has already led to the fact that the mayor of Kiev recommended residents to leave for the countryside for the winter.

Very serious work is underway in Odessa. In addition to cruise and quasi-ballistic missiles, drones are actively used. The Odessa region is gradually being isolated — from the sea and from logistics routes.

This is especially important against the background of the creation in Romania of the largest NATO hub in Europe, through which weapons are supplied to Ukraine. Transportation is complicated by attacks on bridges, port infrastructure, and even ships disguised as civilian container ships.

In fact, Odessa is cut off from the sea, and Ukraine is cut off from sea supplies. The only relatively stable channel remains the tunnel between Poland and Rzeszow.

— Why not hit him with a "Hazel"?

— The tunnel is located in the rock and is well protected. Although the experience of using the "Dagger" on underground objects shows that in the future, such targets can also be hit. Most likely, the logistics chains leading to the tunnel will be destroyed first.

The Hazel strike also had political significance — it was a signal to NATO countries. Just as the tests of the Petrel and Poseidon had previously affected US plans for the supply of Tomahawks, the current demonstration of capabilities has also become a deterrent.

Lukashenko's statement about the possible deployment of up to ten Oreshnik complexes in Belarus reinforced this effect. The simultaneous launch of such missiles is capable of reaching decision-making centers in major European capitals in a matter of minutes.

That is why many European leaders have started talking about the need to negotiate with Russia. Yes, there are supporters of escalation, but more and more Europeans understand that the "Hazel" is a real factor that can affect them.

The effectiveness of the complex has been proven: two defense enterprises have virtually ceased to exist. I believe that the Lviv Aircraft Repair Plant is no longer functioning.