Russia warns of an immediate ‘proportional response’ if Britain continues its ‘direct provocation’ of Ukraine – as it happened

Kyiv dismantles ‘Friendship of the Peoples’ statue erected in 1982 to symbolise ties between Ukraine and Russia. Photograph: Alessio Mamo/The Guardian

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Ukraine retains control over the majority of its airspace, UK MoD says

Ukraine retains control over the majority of its airspace as Russian air activity focuses primarily on southern and eastern Ukraine, the UK’s ministry of defence has said.

In its latest intelligence report, the ministry said:

Ukraine retains control over the majority of its airspace. Russia has failed to effectively destroy the Ukrainian Air Force or suppress Ukrainian air defences. Ukraine continues to hold Russian air assets at risk.

Russian air activity is primarily focused on southern and eastern Ukraine, providing support to Russian ground forces. Russia has very limited air access to the north and west of Ukraine, limiting offensive actions to deep strikes with stand-off weapons.

Russia continues to target Ukrainian military assets and logistics infrastructure across the country.

The majority of Russian air strikes in Mariupol are likely being conducted using unguided free-falling bombs. These weapons reduce Russia’s ability to effectively discriminate when conducting strikes, increasing the risk of civilian casualties.”

Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 27 April 2022

Find out more about the UK government's response: https://t.co/yBkEQmjzoS

🇺🇦 #StandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/r4vIO69jIM

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) April 27, 2022