Zelensky's new war strategy 'paying off' as Putin's troops only protected by one thing

Satellite image of Su-57s hit by Ukrainian forces (Image: Ukraine Defence)

Ukraine's bold strategy in the ongoing conflict with Russia appears to be yielding results, with reports indicating that Russian air defence units are being systematically dismantled.

A tweet by user @JayinKyiv highlighted the development, quoting a Russian insider Telegram Channel, Fighterbomber, which revealed that Russian troops are facing losses due to the absence of adequate airfield protection.

The X user wrote: "Ukraine's strategy of destroying Russian air defence units seems to be paying off with Russians now complaining that they are losing planes because airfields in Russia are now only protected by guys with rifles."

According to the Telegram group, Russian airfields now rely solely on ground personnel armed with rifles, leaving their sophisticated aircraft vulnerable to attacks.

The inadequacy of this defence was glaringly exposed when three UAVs successfully penetrated an airfield, encountering minimal resistance from the ground detachment.

The Russian insider wrote in the Telegram group: "Two Su-57s were damaged.

"Of the three UAVs that attacked the airfield, all three made it.

"The only rebuff the UAV tried to give was a detachment that shot two magazines at them, and then spent the whole morning collecting cartridges around the airfield."

Ukrainian forces reportedly targeted an ultra-modern Russian warplane, identified as a twin-engine Su-57, stationed at an air base nearly 600 kilometres from the front lines.

Satellite images released by Kyiv's main military intelligence service depicted the aftermath of the attack, revealing damage inflicted on the advanced fighter jet.

The strike, believed to be Ukraine's first successful assault on a Su-57, occurred at the Akhtubinsk base in southern Russia.

The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence claimed that the targeted aircraft was among a select few in Moscow's arsenal. The Su-57, renowned for its stealth capabilities and long-range missile systems, represents a prized asset for the Russian military.

Ukrainian officials, while confirming the attack, stopped short of providing concrete evidence regarding the extent of damage inflicted. However, Andriy Yusov, a spokesman for Ukraine’s military intelligence, suggested that the strike may have resulted in damage to multiple Su-57 jets and casualties among Russian personnel.

Ilya Yevlash, a spokesman for Ukraine's air force, previously indicated that Russian efforts to keep their Su-57 fleet at a safe distance from Ukrainian forces were indicative of the effectiveness of Ukraine's military strategies.