UK intelligence: Russian army increasingly losing helicopters

Russia is still failing to maintain adequate air superiority in order to reliably carry out effective fixed-wing close air support near the front line, and its artillery ammunition is running low.

Caliber.Az reports referring to the Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine, which is published by the UK Defence Ministry on October 25.

"There have been at least 23 verified losses of Russia’s Ka-52 HOKUM attack helicopter in Ukraine since the invasion. This represents over 25% of the Russian Air Force’s in-service fleet of 90 Ka-52s and nearly half of Russia’s total helicopter losses in Ukraine," the report said.

"Russian attack helicopters have likely suffered particular attrition from Ukrainian man-portable air defence systems (MANPADS), while the helicopters frequently operate with less consistent top-cover from combat jets than they would expect under Russian military doctrine. Russian commanders are likely increasingly resorting to conducting high-risk attack helicopter missions as one of the few options available to provide close support for troops in combat," the ministry reported.

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 25 October 2022

Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/bZmLpOMrm8

🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/xz5YZDfgkT

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) October 25, 2022