Whatever fighters they have in the Crimea....they are probably being given ‘status’ for operational hours/parts/maintenance. So if they move them, they are are genuinely worried about losing what limited operational fighters they have in the overall inventory.
I would doubt that they are telling Putin this.
“I would doubt that they are telling Putin this.”
I do believe you are absolutely correct.
Ukraine is winning! Russian Air Force can’t fly out of these bases now. The Invaders is being pushed out. Ukraine super weapons are turning the tide. Soon they Russians will be in full retreat! No Russian Planes will fly over sacred Ukraine! The end of Russia is near—It will be over in a few weeks. They are running out of planes, men, and shells. CRIMEA will be free again! Then Donbas and all Ukraine—Then The march to take all Russian lands on Black Sea! Ukraine needs to punish Russia for its invasion by seizing lands to pay for the occupation that the Putinist’s have inflicted upon them. The final Victory is coming soon—Just send a few more Billion and maybe 200,000 US military advisors to win the war, once and for all. To not stand with Ukraine is to stand with Putin!