About 430 Russian aircrafts, 360 helicopters concentrated around Ukraine

The relevant statement was made by Air Force Command Spokesperson Yurii Ihnat during a briefing at Ukraine Media Center, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“At the beginning of the full-scale war, Russia’s air formations around Ukraine consisted of 700 aerial vehicles: 450 aircrafts and 250 helicopters. The Air Force and other defense forces have already destroyed lots of enemy aerial vehicles, but the enemy can replenish stocks, bringing aerial vehicles from the middle of the country. Today, there are slightly less planes – 430 – deployed around the border with Ukraine at different airdromes in Belarus, Russia and Crimea. But, the number of helicopters significantly increased to over 360 deployed close to the border with Ukraine,” Ihnat told.

In his words, attack aircrafts and combat helicopters are used to provide support for Russia’s ground troops most often.

According to Ihnat, Russian troops are using different types of aerial vehicles.

“We are recording the use of strategic aircrafts, long-range bombers, Su-34 fighter-bombers, attack aircrafts,” Ihnat added.

Russia’s A-50 airborne early warning and control aircrafts continue to operate in the air space of Belarus and the air space of Russia, Ihnat noted.

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