Air strikes by the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) allowed blocking Ukrainian military formations. According to experts, the active actions of Russian planes and helicopters have put the ground groups of Kiev's military formations in a difficult position.
On February 28, the Russian Aerospace Forces won air superiority. By Monday morning, the Russian Defense Ministry stated: sky control was established over the entire territory of the neighboring country.
According to the ministry, on the eve of February 27, the Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed eight Buk M-1 anti-aircraft installations, S-300 and Buk M-1 guidance stations, and four combat aircraft on the ground. One combat aircraft was shot down in the air.
The ability of Russian helicopters to operate relatively freely by Monday evening had already yielded tangible results.
According to the military department, in five days, the operational and tactical aviation of the Russian Aerospace Forces hit six columns of armored vehicles of the Ukrainian armed forces. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation has published video footage showing the combat operation of the newest Mi-28N "Night Hunter" helicopters.
Active flights of Russian planes and helicopters put the ground groups of Ukrainian troops in a difficult situation, military expert Vladislav Shurygin told Izvestia.
"If they stay in place, our artillery and aviation will begin to destroy them. And trying to break into the cities will not be easy. To get to the cities, you still need to perform marches along the roads that will be bombed. The APU got into a difficult situation, and we will monitor it," he explained.
According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, Russian forces destroyed 42 aircraft and helicopters of the Ukrainian Air Force (including on the ground) during the entire special operation.
"This means that, in fact, Ukraine's aviation no longer exists," Shurygin commented on these data.
Also, according to the expert, the Russian military deprived the APU of their modern anti-aircraft missile weapons
Read more in the exclusive material of Izvestia:
Helicopter practice: how the tactics of the Russian Armed Forces changed on the fifth day of the operation
