While Russian pilots were managing to support land operations in the south of Ukraine, they were doing so “without decisive operational effect,” the British Ministry of Defense said in its daily intelligence update on Monday.

To compensate, Russia was sending adapted free-fall bombs into Ukrainian territory. However, these had “yet to demonstrate consistent accuracy,” it added.

“Over the summer, Russian tactical combat aircraft have typically carried out over 100 sorties a day, but these are almost always restricted to operating over Russian-controlled territory due to the threat from Ukrainian air defenses,” the update said.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine has been able to gain air superiority in the war so far despite Russia’s vastly larger air force. But a military expert previously told Insider that the “advantage is with defense.”

  • interolivary@beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    “They’re doing it on purpose” has to be my #1 favorite excuse for Russia’s poor performance. Like, it acknowledges that something seemingly non-optimal is happening, but turns out it’s actually some sort wildly ingenious plan that only looks stupid.

    Still waiting for those super duper secret reserve elite troops with 999999999 T-14s and Su-57s to show up and mop the floor with the Ukrainians, like I’ve been promised for way too long now