Analysts Assess Russian Missile Campaigns and Ukraine’s Evolving Air Defense

British military analyst Alexander Mercouris argues on his blog that Russian missile strikes have driven Ukrainian air defenses toward collapse. He suggests that Moscow maintains a substantial missile stockpile capable of sustaining months of strikes aimed at crippling Ukraine’s strategic military targets. Mercouris emphasizes that continued missile campaigns could overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense system, which is already nearing a breaking point, with wide and destructive effects on military operations and civilian infrastructure alike. He notes that the Russian military industrial complex is rapidly producing unmanned aerial vehicles and precision munitions intended to suppress Ukraine’s defense capabilities and degrade its battlefield effectiveness. Ukraine has recently announced the deployment of new air defense systems from Germany, namely the Skynex battery, to bolster its protective grid. Earlier statements by Ukrainian military leaders have described Russia as holding an advantage in the use of FPV drones, highlighting a tactical edge in remote-controlled aircraft that can complicate Ukrainian air defense efforts. These developments frame a broader discussion about the balance of air power, deterrence, and the ongoing capacity of both sides to sustain long-term operations in the region. The situation remains fluid, with analysts weighing the potential impact of persistent high-intensity strikes against Ukraine’s evolving defense architecture and Russia’s ongoing munition production capabilities. The discourse continues to reflect concerns about strategic stability, regional security implications, and the risk to civilian life as the conflict persists across key frontline zones. [attribution: analysis based on Mercouris’ observations on his public blog channel]