Russian air forces reduce number of sorties, claims UK intelligence
The number of combat sorties by Russian tactical aircraft over Ukraine has significantly decreased (Photo:Command of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine)
The number of combat sorties by Russian aircraft against Ukraine has significantly decreased in recent months, the UK’s Defence Intelligence reported on Twitter on Dec. 5.
“Russian aircraft now probably conducts tens of missions per day, compared to a high of up to 300 per day in March 2022,” the agency said.
“Russia has now lost over 60 fixed-wing aircraft in the conflict, likely including an additional Su-24M FENCER fighter-bomber and a Su-25 FROGFOOT ground attack aircraft last week.”
The decrease in Russian flights is likely connected with the high threat of Ukrainian air defense, limitations on flight time of Russian planes, and worsening weather conditions, the agency added.
“With Russia’s ground attack tactics largely reliant on visual identification and unguided munitions, the Russian air force is likely to continue a low rate of ground operations through the poor winter weather.”
According to the Ukrainian military’s General Staff, since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine, Russia has lost about 91,150 of its soldiers. Meanwhile, Russians forces are believed to have lost 281 planes and 263 helicopters.
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