The reasons why Russia has not yet gained control of air have been the subject of violent debates since Moscow started rocket attacks on Ukrainian early warning radars.
In view of the impressive firepower of the approximately 300 modern combat aircraft, which the Russian aviation and space forces in the region have ready, why did they appear so little?
The opinion of many in the West may have been influenced by the unusual circumstances of the fights in Iraq and Afghanistan, where allied air forces have not met with any serious resistance.
It is easy to forget that, in order to say it with the words of Andy Netherwood, a former RAF pilot, "the air is normally just like the country.
The control of the air, which is essential when missions are to be started on the ground without offering light goals to the enemy, is rarely simple, absolutely or permanent. Even with considerable exceeding, it takes time and effort to achieve it. The advantage of maintaining is also difficult because soil units learn from past clashes and adapt their tactics.
"Russia was also disabled by complacent and arrogant planning in the air area as in the country," said Netherwood. "The Russian Air Force has very little combat experience except in Syria recently. You don't really know how good an Air Force is until it has to wage a war ... [it is] not impressive."
Of course there were Ukrainian losses. On Tuesday morning it was announced that Colonel Oleksandr "Gray Wolf" Oksanchenko, from 2013 to 2018, was killed by the Ukrainian Air Force pilot when his jet was shot down on Friday evening.
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