In a daily intelligence report, the UK ministry stated that the intense operations in Ukraine have pushed many Russian aircraft dangerously close to their operational limits much sooner than originally projected.
This accelerated wear and tear has been compounded by the increasing need for maintenance and a shrinking supply of spare parts, with these challenges having also been exacerbated by the ramifications of international sanctions imposed on Russia.
The British report highlights that, while the Russian Air Force retains the capability to escalate flight operations over the Ukrainian territories under its control, the extended duration of hostilities could potentially further diminish the long-term operational effectiveness of their aircraft.
(jh)
Source: PAP