Russia gathers warplanes at Ukrainian border: large-scale airstrike is imminent, intelligence services fear | War Ukraine and Russia

Western intelligence services observe that Russia is deploying fighter jets on the border with Ukraine. There is growing concern about a major Russian airstrike, reports ‘The Financial Times’. Therefore, Western allies are trying to deliver air defense systems and artillery ammunition to Ukraine as soon as possible.

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Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russia has used its sizeable air force sparingly, relying instead on long-range missiles, artillery and land forces.

But according to two officials who are aware of the content of intelligence shared by NATO allies, it appears that Russia is collecting fighter jets and helicopters close to the border with Ukraine. It is an indication that a new phase is coming and that Moscow is preparing to deploy its air force in support of a difficult land offensive, it sounds.

NATO boss Stoltenberg: “Urgently send more weapons to Ukraine”

During meetings with countries that support Ukraine, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Tuesday stressed the threat posed by Russia’s significant air force. “He was very clear that we have limited time to help the Ukrainians prepare for an offensive and that they have some specific needs,” said a senior US government official.

“Russian land forces are quite thinned out, so it is the best indication that they will try to switch to aerial combat. If the Ukrainians are to survive…they must have as many air defense capabilities and ammunition as possible…,” the official added.

“Eighty percent of Russia’s air force is still operational,” a senior NATO diplomat told The Financial Times. “So we expect them to prepare for an air campaign and to aim to knock out Ukrainian air defenses with strikes.”

At a news conference later Tuesday, Austin soothed that the US sees no immediate signs of a “massive airstrike” but that Washington and its allies want to send as much air defense capability to Ukraine as possible. “Ukraine’s current air defense is not enough and we will continue to do more because the threat is there,” Austin said. “We want to ensure that Ukraine has the capacity to defend itself if Russia decides to deploy its air force.”

This finding fits into the current debate on whether the West should also provide Ukraine with modern fighter jets. It is clear to President Volodymyr Zelensky that Ukraine urgently needs this. However, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius (SPD) recently said that delivery is not currently a priority. His US counterpart Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday there was “nothing new to report” on the case.