Putin’s air force failing in tactical battle against Ukraine, says UK

Russian air forces are failing to successfully engage in tactical battles with Ukraine, British defence chiefs have said in their latest briefing.

According to the Ministry of Defence, Russia has been trying to stop Ukraine using Snake Island, after the Ukrainians recaptured the strategic stronghold on June 30.

On Wednesday, two airstrikes by Su-27 Russian fighter jets failed to hit the island.

“This follows the pattern of Russian air forces failing to successfully engage in the tactical battle,” the MoD said.

Despite this, Russian and pro-Russian Luhansk People’s Republic forces are making headway elsewhere and claim to have entered the outskirts of Siversk.

The town is located in the Donbas where fighting has intensified over the last few months.

Since the war broke out, more than two and a half million people have been evacuated from Ukraine to Russia, the MoD added.

The ministry said: “Russia continues to face accusations that it is forcibly deporting Ukrainians; in many cases Ukrainians have reportedly been mistreated in filtration camps set up by Russia.”

Earlier this week, a Russian air strike hit the city of Vinnytsia in central Ukraine, killing at least 23 people - including three children.

Russia, which denies targeting civilians, said the building it struck on Thursday was used to train troops. Ukraine said it was an office building housing a cultural centre used by retired veterans.

President Volodymyr Zelensky called Russia a terrorist state, urged more sanctions against the Kremlin and said the death toll in Vinnytsia could rise.

Mr Zelensky told an international conference, aimed at prosecuting war crimes in Ukraine, that the attack had been mounted on “an ordinary, peaceful city”.

“No other state in the world poses such a terrorist threat as Russia,” Mr Zelensky said.