Ukraine invasion: ‘missing’ Russian air force leaves US experts stumped
- Despite initial predictions that Moscow would quickly move to dominate the skies, Ukraine’s planes are still flying, and its air defences remain viable
- Analysts have seen evidence of Russia’s lack of coordination with ground troops, with some being sent beyond the reach of their own air defence cover
Before Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, US intelligence had predicted a likely blistering assault by Moscow that would quickly mobilise the vast Russian air power that its military assembled to dominate Ukraine’s skies.
But the first six days have confounded those expectations and instead seen Moscow act far more delicately with its air power, so much so that US officials cannot exactly explain what’s driving Russia’s apparent risk-averse behaviour.
“They’re not necessarily willing to take high risks with their own aircraft and their own pilots,” a senior US defence official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Vastly outmatched by Russia’s military, in terms of raw numbers and firepower, Ukraine’s own air force is still flying and its air defences are still deemed to be viable – a fact that is baffling military experts.
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Ukraine missile strike on state administration building in Kharkiv region
After the opening salvoes of the war on February 24, analysts expected the Russian military to try to immediately destroy Ukraine’s air force and air defences.