[Goose]

Reporting that Ukraine destroyed/disabled 2 S400 batteries using drones to damage the radars followed by Neptune's to destroy launchers. If true, or partially true, that is of immense proportions. Seems like a major effort underway to degrade Crimean air defense. Possibly in anticipation of targeting a certain bridge?

There are LOTS of S-400 batteries in Crimea. However, killing them is indeed going to be helpful in attacking the bridge. The problem is that Russia has lots of short-range air defense protecting the bridge, so even if Ukraine removes the medium range and long range defenses, it is still a tough target. Not impervious however.

IMO the targeting of these batteries is primarily oriented towards allowing Ukrainian air to operate in south Kherson and Crimea (eventually) in support of the counter-offensive. Obviously being able to launch Storm Shadow missiles closer to their targets is a "side effect" of this effort. It also means Russian air cannot be sure there will be no Ukrainian air to oppose the Russian attacks on Ukrainian troops. This will become even more important when Ukraine has some F-16s available to keep the Russian air off of their troops. There is a possibility that Ukraine MIGHT actually have a few F-16s operational before the end of the year. They will be so few they will not be tactically significant/effective as such, BUT their mere existence might scare the Russian air enough that it will affect their operations.

[Goose]

Reporting that Ukraine destroyed/disabled 2 S400 batteries using drones to damage the radars followed by Neptune's to destroy launchers. If true, or partially true, that is of immense proportions. Seems like a major effort underway to degrade Crimean air defense. Possibly in anticipation of targeting a certain bridge?

There are LOTS of S-400 batteries in Crimea. However, killing them is indeed going to be helpful in attacking the bridge. The problem is that Russia has lots of short-range air defense protecting the bridge, so even if Ukraine removes the medium range and long range defenses, it is still a tough target. Not impervious however.

IMO the targeting of these batteries is primarily oriented towards allowing Ukrainian air to operate in south Kherson and Crimea (eventually) in support of the counter-offensive. Obviously being able to launch Storm Shadow missiles closer to their targets is a "side effect" of this effort. It also means Russian air cannot be sure there will be no Ukrainian air to oppose the Russian attacks on Ukrainian troops. This will become even more important when Ukraine has some F-16s available to keep the Russian air off of their troops. There is a possibility that Ukraine MIGHT actually have a few F-16s operational before the end of the year. They will be so few they will not be tactically significant/effective as such, BUT their mere existence might scare the Russian air enough that it will affect their operations.