#Ukrainian Air Defense

Russia’s overnight missile barrage on Ukraine on June 6, which the Kremlin touted as a retaliatory strike for recent Ukrainian attacks on its strategic aviation assets, appears to have backfired — both militarily and symbolically.

Russia has begun deploying a more advanced version of its glide bomb system that can now strike targets nearly 100 kilometers from the launch point, expanding the threat range to include all of Kharkiv, Sumy, and areas further south.

Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine has seen the frequent deployment of combat aviation—including one of its most advanced attack helicopters, the Ka-52 Alligator. Despite its fearsome armament and modern onboard systems, the helicopter has suffered substantial losses at the hands of Ukrainian forces.