Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the aggressor country has lost about 55 combat aircraft. Russia's long-standing lack of air superiority remains one of the factors that led to Russian military failures in Ukraine, according to the latest intelligence-based report by the British Ministry of Defence.
According to intelligence, over the past 10 days, Russia has lost at least 4 combat aircraft in Ukraine with a high probability, as a result of which such losses have increased to 55 since February 24.
Britain's MoD says it is likely that the increase in casualties is a result of the Russian air force taking greater risks in an attempt to provide air support to Russian ground forces under pressure from an advancing SFU.
"The situational awareness of Russian pilots is often poor; there is a real possibility that some aircraft strayed over enemy territory and fell into denser air defense zones, while the front lines were advancing rapidly," the intelligence said.
Russia's continued lack of air superiority, intelligence officials said, remains one of the most important factors that "reinforces the fragility of its operational structure in Ukraine."
