The i Paper
Ukrainian forces have hit a space communication centre north of Moscow and a factory making crucial missile technology in Voronezh in the south-west in the past few days, building on recent waves of drone and missile strikes against energy facilities in Russia.
The Ukrainian tactics are having an effect. Petrol shortages and rationing are hitting Russians across the country with surging prices and long queues at pumps far from the front lines, with the independent think-tank the Institute for the Study of War pointing to the impact on Kremlin supply chains to troops at the front.
The air defence battle is costing Russia manpower and money as Putin’s generals scramble to protect the motherland.
“Russia lacks the necessary mobile air defence groups to repel Ukrainian strikes and now has to recruit additional air defenders while simultaneously trying to recruit fighters for the front line,” said Jennie Olmsted, Russia researcher at the Institute for the Study of War in Washington DC.
“The strikes will require the Kremlin to recruit more air defenders to protect the Russian rear areas in both occupied Ukraine and Russia, which will further drain Russian recruitment,” said Olmsted who also highlighted the costs for Putin of introducing restrictions on fuel sales across the country.
