Moscow has planes and electronic jamming as it “throws everything” in the battle for Donbass

The Kremlin also claims to have more than 1,000 small, universal Orlan-10 drones, which it uses for reconnaissance, targeting, jamming and telephone interception.

Russia lost about 50 of its Orlan-10s during the war, but “what they lost may be a small part of what they fly,” said researcher Samuel Bendet of the think tank’s Center for Naval Analysis.

In a intelligence update Saturday, the UK Ministry of Defense said: “By shifting its operational focus to Donbass, Russia has managed to increase the use of tactical air to support its creeping offensive, combining air strikes and massive artillery fire to bring huge firepower.

“The combined use of air and artillery strikes is a key factor in Russia’s recent tactical success in the region.

Mr Gaidi in Luhansk again called for modern armaments from Ukraine’s allies.

“As soon as we have enough Western long-range weapons, we will repel their artillery from our positions. And then, believe me, the Russian infantry will just run away, “he said.

Moscow has said Western weapons will add fuel to the fire, but will not change the course of what it calls a “special military operation.”