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Russia is increasingly relying on relatively low-cost drones to suppress Ukrainian air defenses and attack military and civilian targets because Kyiv has successfully denied the Kremlin’s bid to control the air space, British military officials said Friday.
Russia has been unable to exploit its substantial force of jet fighters and bombers. However, Ukraine may have accounted for Russia’s change in tactics when they attacked Moscow’s 726th Air Defense Training Center at the Yesk Air Base in Russia on June 21, the officials said.
“This base is one of at least five from which Russia launches its (uncrewed aerial vehicles) attacks against Ukraine,” British officials said in a battlefield update on X. “This strike reportedly destroyed 120 UAVs of differing types and wounded 9 personnel.”
The attack will likely disrupt Russia’s ability to use drones against Ukrainian targets in the short term. There also is a “realistic possibility” that Moscow will disperse its drone operations to less vulnerable bases, making the impact of the June 21 strike temporary, they said.
“It is likely that Ukraine will exploit its recent successes and counter with its counter-UAV campaign to the detriment of Russia,” British officials said.
• Mike Glenn can be reached at mglenn@washingtontimes.com.
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