Russia risks losing aircraft to advance in Avdiivka – ISW report

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) shared the information in its recent report.

The latest losses of Russian aircraft over two weeks led to a temporary reduction in aviation activity across Ukraine. Despite this, recent weeks' increased losses haven't prompted Russian troops to significantly decrease tactical aviation activity.

ISW's report suggests that during the Avdiivka capture, Russian forces briefly established limited and localized air superiority.

The report states, "Russian forces are likely attempting to reestablish this limited and localized air superiority in order to support tactical Russian advances in the Avdiivka direction and have decided that continued offensive operations with air support outweigh the risk of losing more aircraft."

ISW analysts estimate that the loss of 15 aircraft and potentially skilled pilots in the last two weeks “is not negligible” for the Russian military, considering their approximate fleet of 300 Sukhoi fighter aircraft.

• As reported by Air Force Commander Mykola Oleschuk, no activity from Russian planes has been observed in eastern Ukraine since the evening of March 2.