Russia's Aerospace Forces leadership under pressure to improve air defenses – UK intel

The UK Defense Ministry said this in an intelligence update posted to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, Ukrinform reports.

"The leadership of Russia's Aerospace Forces (VKS) is highly likely under intense pressure to improve air defenses over western Russia. In recent months, the range of threats penetrating well inside Russia has increased. […] Pressure is likely to particularly fall on VKS Chief of Staff, Colonel-General Viktor Afzalov; VKS Commander-in-Chief General Sergei Surovikin remains absent, suspected to have been detained in relation to the June 2023 Wagner Group mutiny," the update said.

The UK Defense Ministry added that strikes deep inside Russia are strategically important because President Putin almost certainly invaded Ukraine on the assumption that it would have little direct effect on Russians.

"Uncrewed Aerial Vehicles are regularly hitting Moscow. In addition, there have also been increasing reports of SA-5 GAMMON missiles striking Russia. This Soviet-era 7.5 tonne, 11-meter long weapon is retired from its air defense role in Ukraine's inventory. However, it is now apparently being employed as a ground attack ballistic missile," the ministry added.