Russia plans to protect its fighter jets and warships from Ukrainian attacks with the help of replicas and other deception, according to British reports.

The Russian forces “have highly” been making efforts to increase and improve the use of so-called maskirovka techniques to mitigate the heavy losses. The losses suffered over the past two years in the Black Sea Fleet and Aerospace Forces, the British Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday.

He referred to the Russian term as deception and concealment.

Cheap replicas of jets were being set up at Russian airfields or aircraft were being covered with tyres, and there were also reports of aircraft silhouettes being painted on the ground, the statement continued.

The bow and stern of warships were painted black to make the boats look smaller.

Outlines of the ships would be painted on the pavement at the quays.

The British ministry also showed an aerial photograph of a submarine at anchor in the harbour of Novorossiysk and a silhouette next to it.

“In spite of these attempts at concealment, Russian aircraft are still vulnerable to conventional shoot downs while in the air, and Russian vessels are still vulnerable whilst on operations in the Black Sea,’’ it stated.

This is according to the British authority.

“It is unlikely that the use of maskirovka techniques will lead to any significant reduction in losses,” added the ministry.

Ukraine has been defending itself against an attack by Russia for more than two years.

Since then, the British Ministry of Defence has regularly published information on the course of the war.

Moscow accused London of disinformation. 

(dpa/NAN)