The Russian occupiers are ready to risk their planes in order to maintain a tactical advantage in the Avdiiv direction.
The Russian army is ready to lose planes for victories in the Avdiiv direction
It is noted that the latest losses of Russian aircraft over the course of two weeks prompted the invaders to temporarily reduce aviation activity throughout the territory of Ukraine. However, the increase in the number of losses of Russian aviation in recent weeks has not yet prompted the Russian forces to significantly reduce the activity of tactical aviation.
According to ISW, in the last days of the capture of Avdiyivka, Russian forces temporarily established a limited and local superiority in the air.
Russian forces are likely trying to restore this limited and localized air superiority to support the tactical advance of Russian forces in the Avdiiv direction and have decided that continuing offensive operations with air support outweighs the risk of losing more aircraft, the report said.
ISW estimates that the loss of 15 aircraft and possibly several highly skilled pilots over the past two weeks is not a major loss for the Russian military, given the fact that Russia likely has around 300 Sukhoi fighter jets.
How many Russian aircraft have been destroyed by the Armed Forces
Over the past two weeks, the Ukrainian Air Force has destroyed a record number of Russian aircraft in such a short period since the beginning of a full-scale war.
Thus, on February 17, the Defense Forces destroyed three Russian aircraft - two Su-34 fighter-bombers and a Su-35 fighter, and already on February 18 they "landed" another Su-34.
The next day, defenders shot down two more Russian planes in the east. The military "landed" another Su-34 on February 21.
In addition, on February 23, the Defense Forces shot down an A-50 long-range radar detection and control aircraft over the Sea of Azov.
Two more Su-34s were shot down on February 27. And on February 29, Ukrainian troops destroyed an Su-34 in the Eastern direction and two more Su-34s in the Avdiiv and Mariupol directions.
On March 1, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed another Su-34, and on March 2, an aircraft of this brand was also destroyed.
The Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported that no Russian military aircraft have been observed in the east since the evening of March 2.
