According to British secret services, Russia can hardly rely on its air force in the war of aggression against Ukraine. The Ministry of Defense in London announced on Thursday that Russian warplanes had recently flown more attacks again. However, they could not perform their actual key role because they would be deployed almost exclusively over Russian-controlled territory, it said. The reason is, on the one hand, the functioning Ukrainian air defense system, and the fighter jets were also scattered over several bases because of the danger of Ukrainian attacks on Russian airfields.
With an estimated 1,500 military aircraft, the Russian Air Force is largely intact despite the loss of around 130 aircraft since the beginning of the war, it said in London. However, an extension of the air war is unlikely under the current circumstances, according to the British ministry. This would result in “unsustainable aircraft losses”. “Overall, the Russian Air Force continues to perform poorly in the war,” it said.
The British Ministry of Defense has published daily information on the course of the war since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, citing intelligence information. In doing so, the British government wants to both counter the Russian portrayal and keep allies in line. Moscow accuses London of a disinformation campaign.
