Following heavy losses in eastern Ukraine, Russia has moved S-400 strategic air defence systems from its Kaliningrad Region to the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the British Ministry of Defence has said, citing intelligence data.
The relocation of the S-400 followed a sharp increase in losses of air defence systems in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine at the end of October 2023.
According to British intelligence, Russia considers Kaliningrad to be one of its most strategically sensitive regions, in part because it borders NATO member states on three sides. Therefore, the relocation of S-400 systems from Kaliningrad is an important factor.
The fact that Russia's Defence Ministry seems willing to take additional risks there underscores the excessive strain that the war has placed on some of Russia's current capabilities.