Ukrainian strikes on Crimea cripple Russian air defences
Four successful attacks conducted by Ukraine within a month on occupied Crimea have significantly weakened Russian air defences in the territory and will likely force Russia to disperse its elements further, the British Ministry of Defence stated on Saturday.
In the daily intelligence update, it was reported that on 14 May, the Ukrainian armed forces carried out attacks on Russian military targets in occupied Crimea, and initial reports suggest that elements of the S-400 Triumph air defence missile system (NATO code: SA-21) were destroyed, including radar and launchers. Additionally, reports indicate that at least two MiG-31BM aircraft (NATO code: Foxhound C) standing on the ground were destroyed.
It was noted that this is the fourth instance within a month that Russian air defences in Crimea have suffered losses, as the Ukrainian armed forces previously conducted successful attacks on the radar in Aj-Petri in the Crimean Mountains on 12 May and on the military airport in Dzhankoy on 16 April and 29 April. It was assessed that the combined effect of these attacks is the degradation of Russia's air defence capabilities around Crimea while also demonstrating Ukraine's ability to influence the operation of Russian air defences.
Russia will disperse "air assets"
"This will likely lead Russia to disperse its air assets to increase its resilience to combat actions, or it will risk losing more aircraft by transferring air defence elements from elsewhere. Reducing the operational area of A-50U (Mainstay) aircraft and sending them from military airfields in Crimea will likely increase the number of flight hours and sorties per fighter pilot to fill gaps in the patrol area, leading to the need for more frequent fleet maintenance", it was written.
