Following the downing of two Russian Su-30 fighter jets using air-to-air missiles launched from the Magura-7 sea platforms, the Russians began to act more cautiously, according to Dmytro Pletenchuk, spokesman for the Ukrainian Navy.
"After the downing, they act more carefully. In any case, when something like this happens, they usually take a tactical pause and start considering what to do next. But, as a rule, knowing the Russians, they do this after the second case. When it happens for the first time, they often don't pay much attention, but when it begins to show signs of becoming a system, they freeze and start thinking about how to proceed," said Pletenchuk.
According to him, drones are now taking center stage, as Russia uses a large number of them to carry out attacks on the mainland of Ukraine. Despite constant downings, the cost of these drones is quite high, and Russia uses this type of aviation almost 24/7.
Pletenchuk noted that the recent downing of Russian aircraft marks a new phase in developments in the Azov-Black Sea region.
"This theater of operations, the Azov-Black Sea region, has evolved through several turning points after which the situation changed, the rules of engagement shifted. We are now witnessing another turning point, because the only space where the Russians still had some dominance in the Black Sea was the airspace. This turned the territory we liberated into a neighboring zone, because being there, for example, was still dangerous. They couldn’t bring their ships in, and, correspondingly, we also couldn’t operate freely there. The airspace was constantly patrolled by both fighter aircraft and reconnaissance planes. If this trend continues and develops, it will pose another serious challenge for the Russians," said Pletenchuk.
Currently, according to Pletenchuk, Russian aviation is present in the Black Sea area. The Russians rely on it heavily for patrols, as they are currently unable to carry out these operations with ships. They use tactical aviation for strikes and reconnaissance.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense reported the destruction of two Russian Su-30 fighters using AIM-9 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles with infrared guidance, launched from the Magura-7 unmanned sea platforms.
