Ukraine's air defense capabilities remain limited and depleted, allowing russian aircraft to operate freely, without feeling threatened, in the most important areas of the frontline. According to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), this gives putin's army the strength to sustain the offensive.
![Destroying russia's Strategic Aviation Will Not Solve Problem of Ukraine's Air Defense Shortage - ISW, Defense Express](/media/contentimages/d076623742ac9b1f.jpg)
According to military analysts, the ability of russian aircraft to penetrate to a depth of more than 100 kilometers into Ukrainian airspace near the frontline without suffering any significant losses indicates that Ukraine's air defense systems in such areas are still insufficient. This factor does not allow to fully deter russian aircraft from operating at the frontline.
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In addition, the ability of the Defense Forces of Ukraine to carry out long-range strikes that shoot down russian strategic aircraft engaged in combat operations will only be able to limit the operations of russian aviation in the short term. It was already recorded after the previous elimination of similar russian aircraft. Thus, the ISW emphasized, that this strike capability "is not able to compensate for the critical deficit of Ukraine's air defense."
![Destroying russia's Strategic Aviation Will Not Solve Problem of Ukraine's Air Defense Shortage - ISW, Defense Express](/media/contentimages/447662374b618c8c.jpg)
In particalar, Ukrainian troops are still forced to use leftover equipment, deploying their limited air defense capabilities in some of the more important areas of the frontline. This opens up the possibility for russian aviation to conduct more consistent and operational "achievements on the ground," in particular, by supporting the advance of the occupying army near Chasiv Yar.
Earlier Defense Express reported Tu-22M3 had been shot down by completely revamped S-200 SAM system.
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