Ukraine's air defense network no longer capable of substantially countering Russian military aircraft - Russian Defense Ministry

MOSCOW. March 9 (Interfax) - Ukraine's air defense network is only focal in nature and is no longer capable of effectively countering Russian military aircraft, the Russian Defense Ministry said.

"Eighty-one Ukrainian air defense radar posts have been destroyed. This has resulted in the loss of combat control of Ukraine's aviation and air defense," Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said.

"Currently, the air defense network is only focal in nature and is not capable of substantially counteracting Russian aviation," Konashenkov said.

The Russian Armed Forces destroyed 137 S-300, Buk M-1 and S-125 air defense missile systems during the military operation in Ukraine, he said. "This is more than 90% of the long- and medium-range anti-aircraft missile systems in service," Konashenkov said.

Ukraine is receiving data from E-3A aircraft of the AWACS-NATO system, which are on round-the-clock duty in Polish airspace, he said.

"The Ukrainian Armed Forces leadership is trying to make up for the lack of information about the air situation by obtaining data at the command post of the Air Force in Vinnytsia from E-3A aircraft of the AWACS-NATO system. These aircraft are on round-the-clock duty in Polish airspace," the Defense Ministry spokesman said.