According to intelligence data provided to NATO allies, Russia is stockpiling planes and helicopters near the border with Ukraine.
Western intelligence reports that Russia is stockpiling planes and helicopters near the Ukrainian border. This suggests that Moscow may use air power to support its faltering ground offensive.
American officials told the Financial Times that this prompted Ukraine’s allies to make the delivery of air defense systems and artillery ammunition to our country a priority as soon as possible.
According to intelligence data provided to NATO allies, Russia is stockpiling planes and helicopters near the border with Ukraine. Journalists note that on Tuesday, at meetings with allied countries that support Ukraine, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin emphasized the threat posed by Russia’s significant air force.
“He made it very clear that we don’t have much time to help the Ukrainians prepare for an offensive, and that they have quite specific needs,” the US official said, adding that Russian ground forces are sufficiently depleted that Moscow could turn the offensive into air battle
At the same time, Austin himself emphasized at the press conference that the US does not see any imminent signs of a future “massive air attack”. However, he added that Washington and its allies are sending as much air defense as possible to Ukraine.
“We know that Russia has serious aircraft … and there are many opportunities left,” Austin said.
The head of the Pentagon noted that the air defense funds available in Ukraine were “not enough, and we will continue to press until we get more, because this threat exists.”
“We want to make sure that they have the opportunity to defend themselves in case Russia decides to bring its air force into battle,” the American minister summed up.
The new offensive of the Russian Federation: what is known
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War point out that Russia’s major offensive is hampered by the insufficient level of training of mobilized soldiers, who make up the majority of the current composition of the Russian army. Experts refer to data from the Ukrainian side that for the third time Russia is forced to supplement the 155th marine infantry brigade, which suffered heavy losses near Vugledar.
At the same time, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated that there have been more frequent cases when mobilized Russian servicemen from some units refuse to go on the offensive. Because of this, mobilized men from the territories of the Donetsk region temporarily occupied by Russia are removed from the second and third lines and sent to training camps.
At the same time, military expert Petro Chernyk emphasized that the Russian invaders do not have the strength and means for a large-scale offensive along the entire front line. However, he noted that the Russians should not be underestimated.
