Note: it is recommended to read the "Lessons of Air War in Ukraine" prior to reading this article. Ukraine, no matter how well it may be doing against Russia, is losing aircraft. And it will need replacement, be it during the war or afterwards. Currently, Ukraine is still using old Soviet Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters … Continue reading Why Gripen Is Ideal Fighter for Ukraine
Tag: Ukraine
How Many Tanks Have Been Lost in Ukraine
Back in April 2022., Russia claimed to have destroyed 2 037 Ukrainian tanks. In May 2022., Ukraine claimed to have destroyed 30% of Russia's modern tanks. Russia had some 3 000 T-80s and 400 T-90s before the war, which will have meant a loss of 1 000 tanks. Both of these claims are ridiculous. Russian … Continue reading How Many Tanks Have Been Lost in Ukraine
Lessons of Air War in Ukraine
Since the beginning of the invasion, Russians have kept repeating that they had destroyed the Ukrainian air force. In fact, they had claimed on the first day of invasion that UAF had been destroyed. In March 2022., Russian Ministry of Defense again claimed that all Ukrainian aircraft had been destroyed or disabled, and repeated the … Continue reading Lessons of Air War in Ukraine
How Territorial Defense Forces Saved Ukraine
I have already written on the reasons why Ukraine has been so successful in defense against Russia, but one point I believe deserves to be reiterated. When question is raised why Ukraine has been so successful in defense against the Russian invasion, usual explanations are Ukrainian adaptability, Western weapons and supplies, NATO battle tactics, familiarity … Continue reading How Territorial Defense Forces Saved Ukraine
How Dispersed Operations Saved Ukrainian Air Force
Much has been made of Russian Air Force destroying or damaging runways and air strips in the opening days of the invasion of Ukraine, but this was a massive mistake by the clueless Western analysts and journalists. Fact is, this was a mistake. Majority of Ukrainian combat aircraft were MiG-29, Su-27 and Su-25 aircraft. All … Continue reading How Dispersed Operations Saved Ukrainian Air Force
What Ukraine Did Right
While it is entirely likely that Russia will ultimately win, fact is that things are not going at all according to either Russian or Western predictions. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned in every single metric, Ukraine has defied the odds, fighting Russian army to a standstill in many places. While things may turn out poorly … Continue reading What Ukraine Did Right
Usage of Reservists and Irregulars in Ukraine
I had already written on why Ukraine was so successful in its resistance to Russian invasion. Reasons are many, but here I will be addressing one reason in particular: usage of reservists and irregular units. Ever since the end of the Cold War, NATO had been turning to a professional army model, under assumption that … Continue reading Usage of Reservists and Irregulars in Ukraine
Why Was Ukraine So Successful
Before the war had started, CIA had predicted that Kyiv will fall within four days. Russian military was supposed to conquer half the Ukraine and reach Dnieper in few days. Yet, even a full month after the invasion had started, Kyiv had remained in Ukrainian hands (at time I started writing this article, on 26th … Continue reading Why Was Ukraine So Successful
Ukrainian Azov Battalion
Azov Battalion is Ukrainian military unit, with formal designation of Special Operations Detachment Azov. Unit is a regiment of the Ukrainian National Guard that is part of Ministry of Internal Affairs. It is therefore neither a paramilitary unit nor independent of the state. It originally formed as a volunteer militia on 5 May 2014 during … Continue reading Ukrainian Azov Battalion
Causes of War in Ukraine
So why did Russia attack Ukraine? Putin's speech, available on the link below, provides some clues: Russia Ukraine: Vladimir Putin’s full speech (smh.com.au) From the opening paragraph, it is clear that the old adage holds true: states do not change their interests, because geography stays the same. Thus, modern Russia views Ukraine in much the … Continue reading Causes of War in Ukraine