Ukraine’s air force has warned the country could lose air superiority by May amid concerns over its ability to mount an effective spring counteroffensive.
Russia has so far struggled to gain the upper hand in the skies, with Ukraine’s anti-air systems and fighter jets keeping Russian gunships at bay since the initial invasion.
It comes after the leak of secret Pentagon documents last week, a damning development which revealed Ukraine could run out of S-300 AA missiles by 2 May.
The report also revealed American planners doubt Ukraine’s ability to mount a counterattack this spring, hit hard by ‘force generation and sustainment shortfalls’.
Airforce spokesperson Colonel Yuri Ihnat warned Russia might be able to push through in a matter of weeks if Ukraine’s air defences do not hold up, The Times reported.