Despite three years of full-scale war, Russia has been unable to secure its strategic military facilities from Ukrainian strikes.
The UK Ministry of Defense said this in an intelligence update published on X, according to Ukrinform.
“After three years of conflict, Russia’s Aerospace Forces, despite technological and numerical advantage, have failed to gain air superiority over Ukraine. Russia has resorted to using their tactical level aviation – such as Su-34 aircraft – as airborne artillery,” the update read.
The UK Ministry of Defense also noted that Russia’s extensive use of kamikaze drones has likely allowed Russia the space and time to recuperate its Long Range Aviation fleet, and their associated Air Launched Cruise Missile and Air Launched Ballistic Missile stocks.
“With this combination of systems the Russians have consistently targeted Ukrainian critical national infrastructure and air bases,” the report added.
At the same time, Ukraine has successfully used kamikaze drones against military targets and infrastructure in Russia with increased regularity, including multiple recent strikes on Russian oil refineries.
“In September 2024 Ukraine also struck four Russian strategic ammunition depots, including Toropets, hundreds of kilometers from Ukraine. The total tonnage of ammunition destroyed across the sites represents the largest loss of Russian, and North Korean supplied, ammunition during the war,” the report stated.
According to the UK Ministry of Defense, Ukraine’s successful strikes highlight Russia’s continued inability to protect strategic military sites from attack, as well as indicating the challenge confronting Russia to protect its infrastructure balanced against protecting its operations at the front line.
