The Intelligence Community of the Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom believes that the downing of three Russian Su-34 fighter jets over southern Ukraine has impacted the operations of Russian forces on the left bank of the Dnieper River in the Kherson region. This information is reported in their Saturday review.
British intelligence reminds that on December 22, 2023, Ukrainian forces shot down three Russian Su-34 fighter jets over southern Ukraine.
"Previously, Russian tactical aviation played a key role in the south, especially attacking the Ukrainian bridgehead on the eastern bank of the Dnieper," they add, noting that after December 22, Russian fighters "almost completely ceased combat operations."
"There is a realistic possibility that the lack of air support contributed to the failure of the 18th combined-arms unit of the Russian Ground Forces in their attempt to clear the bridgehead," suggests British intelligence.
However, they note that in recent days, Russia has again intensified tactical airstrikes in the area of the Ukrainian bridgehead on the left bank of the Dnieper, "but at a lower level than before the downing" of the Su-34.
"This once again demonstrates that Russia's inability to establish air superiority in the early stages of the Russia-Ukraine war continues to undermine their daily operations," concludes the review.
