Russia likely to be creating a new ‘elite’ attack aviation group, UK says
Russian Sukhoi Su-34, Sukhoi Su-35S and Sukhoi Su-30S fighter jets perform ahead of Victory Day in Red Square in Moscow.
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Russia is highly likely to be creating a new “elite” attack aviation group code-named “Shtorm” (which means “storm”) to operate over Ukraine, the British Ministry of Defense said Monday.
The unit is likely to consist of at least one squadron of Su-24 and Su-34 fighter-bombers, and a squadron of attack helicopters, the ministry said in its latest intelligence update on Twitter.
“The mix of aircraft types suggests the group will have a primary role of ground attack missions,” the ministry said, adding that credible Russian media reports suggest that the Russian defense ministry “aims to attract highly skilled and motivated pilots by offering large pay incentives and opening recruitment to retired aviators.”
“The creation of the group highlights how Russian assesses its regular air force squadrons have severely underperformed in their core function of conducting airstrikes on Ukrainian lines,” the U.K. said.
— Holly Ellyatt
Extensive Russian defenses revealed ahead of Ukrainian counteroffensive
A BBC investigation has revealed extensive Russian defenses and fortifications that have been prepared in occupied parts of the country ahead of Ukraine’s much-awaited counteroffensive.
BBC Verify, a new unit within the British broadcaster charged with investigating and verifying information, video, and images, said it had examined hundreds of satellite images of Ukraine and had “identified some key points in the significant build-up of trenches and other fortifications in southern Ukraine since October.”
The images showed a 15-mile section of Crimean coastline “littered with defence structures installed by Russian troops” as well as defensive lines of anti-tank trenches and dragon’s teeth (pyramid-shaped concrete blocks designed to block…
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