Russians less eager to bomb Ukraine from north since downing of Russian combat aircraft in Bryansk Oblast – Ukrainian Air Force spokesman

Since the downing of several aircraft in Russia’s Bryansk Oblast, the Russians have been less keen to attack Ukraine with guided bombs from the north.

Source: Colonel Yurii Ihnat, spokesman for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, during the national joint 24/7 newscast

Quote: "After the well-known events in the north, the enemy’s keenness to attack with guided bombs from the north has fallen off. Something is bothering them. Perhaps the ‘Bryansk ghost’ is bothering them there. And they are afraid of him, as they were once afraid of Kyiv [a reference to the Ghost of Kyiv, an urban legend born during the Kyiv offensive at the start of the invasion - ed.]."

Details: Ihnat added that the enemy carries out air strikes not only from Russian territory, but also from the occupied territories and the Black Sea (as evidenced by the example of the Su-35 fighter which suffered a "negative take-off" the day before).

The Air Force spokesman gave a further reminder that this serious challenge could be dealt with if Ukraine had multi-purpose fighters such as F-16s that could be on combat duty in various regions of the country. 

"It is unlikely that Russian aircraft would approach the zone where guided bombs could potentially be launched if there were a couple of F-16 aircraft on duty, or more. The presence of these aircraft in the sky will not allow the Russians to approach. It is not necessary to shoot down targets over Russian territory... There should be assets that will preemptively diminish the Russian air force’s desire to fly to our borders."

Background:

• On 13 May, according to unofficial Russian data, two Mі-8 helicopters and two aircraft, a Su-34 and a Su-35, crashed in Bryansk Oblast. Telegram channels in the Russian Federation reported that nine servicemen were dead.
• Officially, Alexander Bogomaz, the governor of Bryansk Oblast, confirmed the crash of only one Mі-8 helicopter. The Russian Ministry of Defence has not yet commented on the incident.
• On 15 May, President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko confirmed that "four aircraft were shot down" in Bryansk Oblast.
• According to Ukraine’s Air Force, the total amount of air equipment lost by the Russians is five units. Colonel Yurii Ihnat, the spokesman for Ukraine’s Air Force, said that the Russian aircraft and helicopters "ran into some problems".

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