Military Aid For Ukraine
Following Russia's launch of military operations in neighbouring Ukraine, Western countries, including Japan, have imposed a slew of penalties on Moscow, ranging from harsh economic restrictions to the seizure of Russian civilian cargo in international waters.
EU Funded Aid Included
It was revealed on February 27th those armaments were set to be dispatched to the Ukrainian armed forces from Europe. Fighter aircraft would be transported fully through Poland as part of EU-funded aid.
Extreme Loses
Ukraine's fighter fleet has taken extreme loses in the conflict's first 72 hours. A notable early sign of which was the decision of a SU-27 pilot to the fleet to Romania on the first.
In the early hours of the fighting, two of Ukraine's 14 highly rated SU-24 attack jets were apparently shot down.
Ukrainian Air Defense Destroyed
Ukrainian air defense were reportedly destroyed with in two to three hours of the conflicts's outbreak. With Russian sources reporting in the early hours of February 28th that complete air superiority over Ukraine had been achieved.
The Ukrainian Air Force Has Struggled To Unite
While the Ukrainian air force would have difficulty integrating western-built jets, this was once a source of concern when it was suggested that US military surplus fighters be supplied during the past eight years.
Warsaw Pact
European countries who were once members of the Warsaw Pact, which was associated with the Soviet Union, continue to use Soviet-built fighters. The Mig-21 and SU-22 jets used by the Romanian and Polish air forces are older designs that Ukraine does not have. The Mig-29, which Ukraine mainly relies on, is developed by Poland, Bulgaria, and Slovakia, with some reports stating that units remain in other countries' reserves, such as Hungary.
Mig-29
The Mig-29 is a less powerful and lighter version of the SU-27 or SU-24. The Soviet Union, on the other hand, exported it more broadly. As a result, it's popular across Eastern Europe. Both European countries and Ukraine rely on fighters that are practically obsolete from the 1980s. However, they are decades behind Russia's frontline fighter jets in terms of technology.
Sending Mig-29s To Ukraine
For a variety of reasons, sending Mig-29s to Ukraine remains very speculative. It's unclear how the planes will get into the nation, if European pilots will fly them, putting them at risk of being shot down by Russian planes, or whether Ukrainian pilots will be dispatched to Poland to fly them.
Ukrainian Air Bases Highly Effected
Furthermore with Ukraine's air bases having been largely destroyed. Even the Mig-29s much feigned ability to operate from short runways would be seriously tested.The possibility of escalation would likely be deemed too great. However if Mig-29s were to fly combat stories from airfields in Poland itself as this would potentially expose Poland to airstrikes.
SU-27 Delivered
Russian state media outlets notably highlighted that more capable SU-27 heavyweight fighters could also be delivered. Although this appears to be an error. Since Ukraine is the only operator of the type in Europe, with the exception of two SU-27s purchased from Belarus for testing in the 1990s.
Numbers Of Migs Will Be Donated To Ukraine
It is not now used by any Western-aligned countries. It's still possible that only a small number of Migs will be supplied to help out. Ukrainian morale, and that these will come solely from Poland, which has taken one of Europe's most adamant anti-Russia stances.
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