British intelligence suggests that Russia has redeployed strategic air defense systems from the Kaliningrad region to replace losses in the war with Ukraine during November.
This information is mentioned in the intelligence overview from the UK Ministry of Defense dated November 26.
Based on exceptional movements of Russian transport aviation during November 2023, intelligence suggests that Russia could have moved strategic air defense systems from the Kaliningrad region to replace losses in the war with Ukraine.
These movements were noticed after an increase in losses of Russian S-400 (NATO reporting name SA-21) air defense systems in the occupied territories of Ukraine at the end of October 2023.
"As its most westerly outpost and bordered on three sides by NATO member states, Russia sees Kaliningrad as one of its most strategically sensitive regions. The fact that the Russian MoD appears willing to accept additional risk here highlights the overstretch the war has caused for some of Russia’s key, modern capabilities," notes the intelligence report.
