Russian reconnaissance drones can fly into Ukraine’s deep rear: ISW names Ukraine's main needs

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) reported the information.

According to the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), Ukraine has had to husband its diminishing supply of surface-to-air missiles (SAM), which allowed Russian reconnaissance drones to fly more freely into the Ukrainian rear, in particular over Kharkiv.

This has forced Ukraine to increasingly make difficult decisions between deploying air defense to cover critical infrastructure in the rear or to the front lines, as ISW has assessed.

“Russian forces have been conducting a large-scale air campaign against Kharkiv City as part of their offensive operations in northern Kharkiv City and have been using glide-bomb strikes to enable Russian ground maneuver in Kharkiv Oblast,” the report said.

Analysts believe that Ukrainian forces need interceptor missiles from the West to destroy Russian reconnaissance drones both in the rear and on the front lines on a large scale.

• On Thursday, May 17, 114 combat clashes took place on the frontline. The situation in Vovchansk, Kharkiv region, is under control.