Looking at the research of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), it was found that the air defense potential of Ukraine in certain areas remains limited, which creates favorable conditions for Russian aircraft to be extremely active in strategically important front areas without appreciable risk. Experts in military analysis see that the ability of Russian aviation to penetrate a considerable distance into Ukrainian airspace without significant losses indicates deficiencies in air defense systems in Ukrainian regions close to the front line. This inability to restrain or at least complicate the actions of Russian aviation on the front line complicates the situation.
In addition, it is noted that the ability of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to attack Russian strategic aircraft participating in military operations can only temporarily limit their actions. Such limitations were evident after the elimination of similar air defense systems in the past. According to ISW experts, this limited strike potential of Ukraine is not capable of compensating for a critical deficit in air defense.
In the end, Ukrainian military forces still use residual equipment, deploying limited air defense assets in some important frontline areas, which creates a gap in defense and opens up opportunities for Russian aviation to conduct more consistent and effective follow-up actions on the ground, in particular, in the area near Chasiv Yaru .
