Ukrainian forces have found clever ways to protect their valuable Western-supplied military equipment.
A Rubber Decoy
In a recent incident, the Russian military claimed to have destroyed a Ukrainian M270 Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) using an Iskander-M missile.
However, the Ukrainians had actually deployed a rubber decoy, tricking the Russians into wasting a missile worth approximately $3 million on a fake target, according to Tech.
The M270 MLRS is a highly effective piece of military hardware supplied to Ukraine by the United States and the United Kingdom. This system is capable of launching powerful 227mm rockets and has played a crucial role in Ukraine's defense strategy.
The M270 can carry up to 12 rockets or two MGM-140 ATACMS ballistic missiles, with a range of up to 300 kilometers, making it a top priority target for Russian forces.
A Sought-After Target
Despite the Russians' efforts, the use of decoys by Ukrainian forces demonstrates their resourcefulness in preserving their real equipment and maintaining their defensive capabilities.
The decoy incident highlights the ongoing cat-and-mouse game between the two sides, where deception and strategic planning are key to survival.
The M270 MLRS has been instrumental in allowing Ukraine to strike targets at distances of up to 80 kilometers, or even 150 kilometers with advanced variants of the rockets.
Its effectiveness has made it one of the most sought-after targets by Russian forces, but as this latest incident shows, Ukraine is not easily outmaneuvered.
