Air defense vulnerability holding at risk key strategic assets in Russia - British intelligence

The UK Ministry of Defense said this in a new intelligence update on Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

The Ministry of Defense reminded that on May 3, 2023, several uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) struck Russia’s Seshcha Airbase, 150km north of the Ukrainian border. One An-124 heavy transport aircraft of Russia’s Military Transport Aviation (VTA) was likely damaged.

According to the British intelligence, Seshcha is a hub for the VTA in western Russia and has played a major role in enabling Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Russia also uses the site to launch Iranian-produced one-way-attack UAVs towards Kyiv.

“The VTA is a well-resourced element of the Russian Air Force, essential for transport across the vast country. Russian leaders will be concerned that Russia’s air defences continue to be compromised, holding at risk key strategic assets such as VTA bases,” the British intelligence said.

As reported by Ukrinform, Units of Ukraine's rocket forces and artillery yesterday hit a Russian command post, six enemy manpower clusters, four artillery units in a firing position and a number of important targets.