Putin has failed to win battle of skies, says MoD

VLADIMIR PUTIN’S forces have failed to “effectively destroy” Ukraine’s air force leaving Volodymyr Zelensky’s government in control of the majority of the country’s airspace, British defence chiefs said today.

Ukraine’s air defences have also not been “suppressed” by Mr Putin’s invasion, which was launched on February 24, leaving Russian planes and helicopters flying over the country “at risk”.

In its latest intelligence briefing on the conflict in Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence added that these failures meant Russian air activity is “primarily focused” on the south and east of the country — where the Kremlin’s forces are now concentrating their efforts — with “very limited air access” in the north and the west.

“Russia has failed to effectively destroy the Ukrainian air force or suppress Ukrainian air defences,” the MoD said. “Ukraine continues to hold Russian air assets at risk.”

It added: “Russian air activity is primarily focused on southern and eastern Ukraine, providing support to Russian ground forces. Russia has very limited air access to the north and west of Ukraine, limiting offensive actions to deep strikes with stand-off weapons.”

Meanwhile multiple explosions were heard in the Russian city of Belgorod, which is about 24 miles north of the Ukrainian border, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov has said.

Earlier this month, Russia said two Ukrainian helicopter gunships hit an oil reservoir in the same region, causing a fire.

Mr Gladkov said he was woken up in the middle of the night by the sound of an explosion and preliminary reports indicated an ammunition depot was on fire in a rural settlement.