"While we are waiting for the F-16-Russians strengthen the defense": expert on the supply of fighters for the Armed Forces

The training of Ukrainian pilots on the F-16 fighters planned in June has never begun. In this way, the process of transmission of aircraft to Ukraine is delayed and allows the Russians to strengthen additional lines of defense. If the training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16 fighters began in June, Ukraine would have received aircraft at the beginning of 2024. But the training did not start because of the calculation error. The Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba has informed about it.

"In June, the workouts have not begun. This means that the schedule begins to shift . . . We are now working with all the involved parties, with all the countries involved in the aviation coalition to accelerate this process as much as possible," Kuleba said. At the same time, the head of the NATO Military Committee Admiral Rob Bauer said that the Alliance plans did not include the transfer of F-16 fighter jets to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to him, pilots will not be able to go through fighters in such a short time, and will not organize logistics that these planes can support. The expert of the Presidential Office Alexei Arestovich expressed some doubt as to whether the West will provide Ukraine with the operation and de -occupation of its territories of weapons.

According to him, if Ukraine allows the Russians to strengthen the additional lines of defense-the transfer of F-16 fighters will not greatly affect the situation on the front. The reserve colonel Vladislav Seleznev believes that the Russians have resources and time to strengthen new borders because the countries of the collective event are delayed with the transfer of the necessary weapons to Ukrainian soldiers.

"We lost 9 months of time in anticipation of weapons, and the Russian army created a powerful network of structures not only in the south, but also in the east of Ukraine - dug, tightened reserves. The assault helicopters and this, not to mention strategic bombers. F-16 we need now, but the prospect of receiving them looks foggy, "-says focus Seleznyov.

According to him, between the decision to transfer a certain weapon, including fighters of the F-16, and the transfer itself, is a period of time intensified by the military bureaucracy. At the same time, in the regulatory documents the use of the Armed Forces by NATO countries - a key factor that determines the effectiveness of combat operations, is the possession of airspace, emphasizes the interlocutor of the focus. "There is no such possession in Ukraine, even parity.

The enemy has modern fighters, for example, Su-35. We have SU-27, which in technical characteristics are multiple of Russian planes. Now it is difficult about some serious achievements, ”Seleznyov says. At the same time, the expert says, it remains to hope for the activity of the Ukrainian Diplomatic Corps, which can contribute and move the situation with the transmission of weapons required for the Armed Forces.

"The enemy now uses more actively uses the assault aviation to some extent compensate for the lack of artillery. After all, our troops are actively working on their systems and warehouses with ammunition, turning them into ashes. But in our weapons there are some needs for artillery shells," says Seleznyov. He cites the words of the US Army retired by Ben Hodges, who is convinced that Ukraine can release Crimea with low losses if he receives ATACMS rocket and F-16 fighter.