Ukrainian Air Forces challenge Russian aircraft with long-range defenses
"Ukrainian forces are actively targeting Russian aircraft, engaging them at distances over 93 miles," announced General Mykola Oleschuk, commander of the Ukrainian Air Forces, on Friday. He noted that Russian forces have become increasingly hesitant to approach Ukrainian positions.
9:34 AM EST, March 9, 2024
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"Our anti-aircraft missile units target Russian fighters almost daily. Just yesterday, they engaged enemy aircraft from more than 93 miles away, and today, we continue our efforts, assessing the results of our operations," Oleschuk shared on Telegram.
The commander pointed out that despite continuous attacks on Ukrainian positions with guided bombs, Russian pilots are wary of getting too close.
"Following significant losses of A-50 long-range early warning aircraft and Su-34/Su-35 fighters, the invaders have noticeably decreased their aerial assault frequency using guided bombs. Moreover, the absence of radar planes over the Azov Sea and other regions has impaired the enemy's radar reconnaissance capabilities," he stated.
Questioning the risks by Russian pilots
Reports from the Ukrainian military indicate that Russian pilots are beginning to question whether their command is sending them on suicidal missions. "Such concerns, possibly coupled with sabotage during missions, are likely to grow as the Air Forces acquire more defense equipment from Western allies to safeguard our skies from air attacks," General Oleschuk speculated.
Previously, it was reported that Russians mistakenly shot down 13 of their own planes in February. A notable incident was the downing of a second Russian A-50 long-range radar aircraft over the Azov Sea on February 23.
