New Phase of War: The Russian Federation is accumulating aviation at the border with Ukraine - FT

About it on Tuesday, February 14, writes Financial Times. Unnamed Western officials told British journalists that "the fear of the Air War in Ukraine" prompted partners to give priority to rapid supply into a new phase. " Thus, on Tuesday, February 14, at a meeting with the Union countries supporting Ukraine, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin emphasized the threat of significant left-handed air forces of Russia.

"He said very clearly that we have a short period of time to help Ukrainians prepare for the offensive and that they have quite specific needs," said an anonymous high -ranking white home representative. According to officials who refer to Western intelligence, the Russian Land Forces, who "stuck" in the eastern direction, are heavily exhausted and needed to support aviation.

"If Ukrainians want to survive, they need to have as much air defense and as much ammunition as possible," the speaker added. It is also reported that at the Press Conference on February 14, Austin stated that the United States did not see the inevitable signs of "massive air attack" by Russia on Ukraine, but Washington and his allies are riding to the country as much as possible. "We know that Russia has significant planes and many opportunities.

The current means of Ukraine's air defense is not enough, and we will continue to achieve their strengthening because the threat exists. We want to be sure that they have the opportunity to protect ourselves if Russia decides to bring their military-air forces into battle, ”the US Secretary of Defense said. It is noted that since the full-scale invasion of the Kremlin rarely used its military-air forces, relying instead on rockets of a distant radius, artillery and land troops.

According to Western analysts, it could have been caused by fear of Russia, that air defense systems of Ukraine threaten planes of the Russian Federation, or by the fact that its fleet is in poor condition. At the same time, Western intelligence estimates show that Russian air forces are "actually quite preserved. " According to an anonymous high -ranking NATO diplomat, more than 80% of Russian aircraft and helicopters are safe and available.

" The warning of the accumulation of air troops, according to FT, was heard after about 50 Western allies at a meeting at NATO headquarters on Tuesday announced additional obligations to provide military equipment for Ukraine. In addition, the US is expected to be announced about the next package of assistance this week, which will mostly include air defense and ammunition, according to people who are familiar with this issue.

We will remind, on February 14 the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Alexei Reznikov attended a meeting of the contact group on defense of Ukraine in the format "Ramstein". While communicating with media representatives, the head of the Ministry of Defense showed a handkerchief with the image of fighters, hinted at the transfer of planes to Ukraine.