The Russian Airborne Force, known as the Airborne Forces, has been heavily involved in several notable tactical setbacks since the start of the Russian invasion, and has been used by Russian commanders on missions better suited to heavy armored vehicles..

According to British intelligence analysts, Russian doctrine provides for the use of the airborne forces during the most complex operations.. Airborne units have 45,000 professional contract soldiers, and its members have an elite status and receive additional pay.

“The main failures of the Airborne Forces include an attempt to attack Kyiv through the Gostomel airfield in March, a stoppage of traffic on the Izyum axis since April, as well as a recent unsuccessful crossing of the Seversky Donets River,” the British Ministry of Defense says..

The mixed performance and failures of the Airborne Forces likely reflect strategic mismanagement of this potential unit and Russia's failure to secure air superiority, analysts say..

The underemployment of the Airborne Forces in Ukraine shows how Putin's significant investment in the armed forces over the past 15 years has led to an imbalance in the overall force, - subjected to British intelligence.

Also, the failure to anticipate Ukrainian resistance and the further complacency of Russian commanders led to significant losses in many of Russia's elite units..

Last layer of protection Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 26 May 2022Receive from UK government's response: https://t. co/rE0lcSuRxb? #StandWithUkraine? pic. twitter. com/QCCDhm8rHj.

— Ministry of Defense? (@DefenceHQ) May 26, 2022.

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Commenting on the situation at the front in the Lugansk region, the speaker of the Ministry of Defense Oleksandr Motuzyanyk said that the Ukrainian troops are not retreating, but are temporarily moving to more convenient positions in order to exhaust the enemy as much as possible.