Russia pauses missile strikes on Ukrainian cities to gear up for winter attacks on critical infrastructure – UK intel
The Russian army is stockpiling missiles to strike Ukraine's critical infrastructure with the onset of cold weather.
Long-range aircraft of the Russian Air Force did not attack Ukraine for 21 days since September 21, Rubryka reports, citing the intelligence update by the British defense ministry on Twitter.
British intelligence said such breaks had not been unusual. The last long break happened between March 9 and April 28, 2023, for 51 days. In this case, Russia likely almost exhausted its stockpile of AS-23 missile munitions after the winter campaign against critical infrastructure in Ukraine in 2022.
"This time, it is likely that Russian LRA [long-range aviation] are preserving existing stocks of AS-23 missiles as well as using this pause to increase useable stocks in anticipation of further heavy strikes against Ukraine over the winter," the report said.
The British intelligence briefing also said Russia recently focused its airstrikes on grain-related targets in the south of Ukraine using drones, including strikes on Ukrainian ports on the Danube River, which probably required high precision due to the proximity to the Romanian/NATO border.
"It is likely that Russia used SHAHED OWA UAVs on these targets because of their better accuracy over other types of air-launched missiles," the British defense ministry noted.
Rubryka reported that the Russian forces might try to stockpile missiles and coordinate massive strikes on energy facilities in Ukraine, as was the case last fall. The United Coordination Press Center chief, Natalia Humeniuk, reported what could be the reason behind the recent decrease in missile air attacks on the territory of Ukraine.
"It is quite possible that they need to accumulate reserves. Although they did not have small reserves, they used them very 'generously.' And production — although it exists — is rather complicated and slowed down," Humeniuk said.
She also noted that Russian invaders could stockpile missile weapons "for specific purposes."
