According to the British Ministry of Defense, the Ukrainian air defense poses significant problems for Russian fighter jets. According to London sources, the weakness of the air force is one of Moscow's biggest problems. Even the use of Iranian drones cannot compensate for this.
According to British information, Russia also used Iranian combat drones in its massive rocket attacks on Ukrainian cities. According to the Ministry of Defense in London, the Shahed unmanned missiles are slow and fly very low, making them easy for air defense to hit. However, there is a "realistic possibility" that Russia has had some success with the use of several drones at the same time, it said, citing intelligence findings.
Russian troops have been using the Iranian drones, including Shahed-136 kamikaze drones, since at least August, the ministry said. "Despite a reported range of 2500 kilometers, the Shahed-136 has a low explosive payload." It is therefore unlikely that the drone will achieve the desired effect.
With Russian warplanes having limited effect because of Ukraine's anti-aircraft defenses, the Russians continue to lack an aerial attack weapon that offers a reliable, sustained and accurate strike capability. This is one of the most important gaps in the Russian war against Ukraine, it said in London.
The British Ministry of Defense has published daily information on the course of the war since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine at the end of February, citing intelligence information. In doing so, the British government wants to both counter the Russian portrayal and keep allies in line. Moscow accuses London of a targeted disinformation campaign.
