"Slow but steady gains": Russia is taking advantage of Ukraine's air defense deficiencies — ISW

The Institute for the Study of War reported the information.

It noted that Russian attacks have forced Ukraine to make difficult decisions between providing air defense at the front or defending large settlements. Russia is likely to use the "degraded umbrella" of Ukraine's air defense, trying to destroy the country's energy network and curb its defense and industrial potential.

"Russian ground forces take advantage of their ability to use air strikes on Ukrainian frontline positions to make slow but steady gains," the analysts said.

According to them, the lack of air defense has facilitated Russia's use of guided and unguided glide bomb strikes, which Russian forces used to tactical effect during the capture of Avdiivka in mid-February 2024 and which Russian forces appear to be using during the current offensive near Chasiv Yar.

• Valeriy Ryabykh, a military expert and development director at Defense Express, an information and consulting company, said that Ukrainian air defense cannot shoot down ballistic targets.