In the past, Nettavisen has written about the importance of air supremacy in war. In Ukraine right now, neither side has full control of the air, but in terms of technology and numbers, Russia is still superior.

In modern times, most of the wars the world has witnessed have been directed against al-Qaeda and the Taliban, over whom the US and other Western nations have had air supremacy since day one. This results in much higher security for the ground forces of the dominant party.

This security does not have a Ukrainian army. Instead, they are an easy and vulnerable target for the Russian and modern Su-35.

– Be cursed

In an interview with The Washington Post, Ukraine’s now defense chief Valery Zaluzhny expressed his frustration. He claimed his Western backers would never launch an offensive without air supremacy, and was disappointed that many had expected Ukraine to quickly and easily recapture lost territory under the current circumstances – without modern fighter jets.

– It pisses me off, said Zaluzhny.

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His troops had advanced daily, if only 500 meters on some days, since the offensive began, he added.

Last Saturday, US General Mark Milley was quoted as saying that the offensive was slow BBC.

– It’s been going a little slow, Milley said, before adding that this is the nature of war.

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Zaluzhny is more concerned with other inertia. He was frustrated by how slow it was to get the weapons West had promised. Ukraine is still waiting for the delivery of F-16 aircraft promised by allied countries.

– I don’t need 120 planes. I will not threaten the whole world. A small number of planes is enough, said Zaluzhny, and also complained that he only had a fraction of the number of artillery shells fired by the Russians.

– People die every day

Zaluzhny emphasized that he is in contact with his counterparts in other countries, such as US General Mark Milley, and they are fully aware of the need.

– It’s just that while the decisions are being discussed, many people die every day. Simply because no decision has been made yet, he said.

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Since Ukraine launched their counteroffensive earlier this month, they say they have regained control of a group of villages in the southeast. Ukrainian officers also said they were making progress along the flank of Bakhmut, which was captured by the Russians after months of fighting that had reduced the town to rubble.

Ukraine’s defense chief believes they have “managed to take over the strategic initiative”.