On January 30, 2024 the Ukrainian General Staff reported that a russian Su-34 combat aircraft had been shot down in the east of Luhansk. The total number of assessed russian fixed wing tactical aircraft losses since February 2022 stands at 82, the UK Defense Intelligence reports.
There is a realistic possibility that the tactical aviation formations of the russian Air Force struggle to provide consistent support to russian ground troops. The introduction of glide kits onto crude weapon systems is likely indicative of their desire to avoid risk, allowing the aircraft to remain even further away from threats and the troops they are supporting. Overall, it highlights the success of the Ukrainian Air Defense units and underlines the continued inability of the russian Air Force to gain air superiority.
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