Russia can increase its aviation to eight divisions by the end of 2023, Zaluzhnyi
Photo: Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valerii Zaluzhnyi (facebook com GeneralStaff ua)
Russia may boost its air force divisions to eight, possibly by the end of 2023, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, said in an article by The Economist.
Since the onset of the large-scale conflict, Russia has lost nearly the same number of aircraft as that of an entire air army, and roughly 13 regiments (brigades) of army aviation have been lost to helicopter crashes. Additionally, the loss of enemy air defense systems has surpassed 550 units.
"Despite such losses, today the enemy continues to maintain significant air superiority, which complicates the advance of our troops and is one of the key factors that transforms the nature of hostilities into a positional form," Zaluzhnyi noted.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine believes that Russia might augment its aircraft fleet. However, he opines that despite the large number of airplanes and helicopters in their possession, Russians don't feel secure flying over the skies of Ukraine.
"According to various assessments, at the end of 2023, the enemy may augment the number of aircraft by building new attack aviation squadrons, so special attention should be paid to this circumstance. But, despite the significant quantitative and qualitative superiority of the enemy in aviation and air defense, it cannot convert it into complete dominance in the air due to the successful work of our elements of direct air defense cover of troops, which constantly increases the number of the engaged enemy air attack weapons," he explained.
Zaluzhnyi stated that the occupiers have shifted their focus to drones, which now handle many aviation tasks such as surveillance and air strikes.
It's worth noting that an aviation division is the primary aviation unit that comprises a command post, multiple aviation regiments, and supporting units. In the Soviet Union, an aviation division consisted of three regiments housing 98 aircraft (bombers) or 124 aircraft (fighters and attack aircraft).
Russia is experiencing losses in the war
The Russian leadership hides the casualties of its troops in the aggressive war against Ukraine, and they withhold losses of equipment, aircraft, and other warfare means as well.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, more than 302,000 occupiers have been eliminated, and just yesterday, our soldiers killed 930 Russians.
