ISW: Russia is ready to lose planes for tactical advance at the front

ISW: Russia is ready to lose planes for tactical advance at the front

In pursuit of at least a minimal tactical advance in the Avdiivka sector, the Russian army is ready to sacrifice its aircraft, the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) writes.

Researchers believe that Russian aviation will continue to actively carry out strikes along the Avdiivka-Donetsk line.

“Russian forces are willing to risk further air losses in pursuit of tactical advantages in eastern Ukraine, likely along the Avdiivka-Donetsk line,” the ISW analysis said.

Russian forces temporarily established limited and localized air superiority in the final days of the capture of Avdiivka. They are likely trying to regain this limited and localized air advantage to support Russian tactical advances in the Avdiivka axis, and have decided that continuing offensive operations with air support outweighs the risk of losing more aircraft.

ISW estimates that the loss of 15 aircraft and possibly several highly trained pilots over the course of about two weeks is not significant for the Russian military, given that Russia likely has about 300 different "Su" fighters.