Russia is holding back on missile attacks and preparing for a large-scale offensive against Ukraine this winter, according to fresh intelligence reports.
The UK Defense Ministry assesses that Russia is planning a winter offensive, a shift from previous missile shortages to a deliberate strategy of conservation.
21 days of silence
It has been 21 days since the Russian Air Force last attacked Ukraine. Previously, the absence of Russian missile attacks was attributed to a lack of AS-23 missiles.
However, this time the situation is different.
According to the UK Defense Ministry, Russia's air forces do have missiles; they are simply saving them for the winter.
The British assessment suggests that Russia still has AS-23 missiles in stock and plans to increase its arsenal of these deadly weapons. The intention is to carry out "massive attacks against Ukraine over the winter."
Recently, Russia has been focusing its attacks on Ukrainian grain factories and facilities. For these attacks, Russia has been using unmanned Shahed drones, also known as kamikaze drones. This allows Russia to conserve its missile stockpile while using more precise drones to weaken Ukrainian infrastructure.
