Defense expert Patrick Bolder of The Hague Institute for Strategic Studies says the West could take defensive measures to protect Ukraine from Russian missile and drone attacks. Bolder points to Poland’s use of F-16s to shoot down missiles and drones that might enter Polish airspace. Why couldn’t they also operate over Ukraine a little?
“The West could also defend part of Ukrainian airspace”
“Why aren’t Western fighter jets coming from Romania securing part of Ukrainian airspace?” he asked, responding to what he believes is a justified (and repeated) call from Ukrainian President Zelensky and his foreign minister Kuleba for Western permission to deploy long-range weapons. Because that’s the only way Ukraine can target Russian airfields and other locations from which Russia launches its drone and missile attacks.
Not the arrow but the archer
“We shouldn’t destroy the arrows, but we should try to hit the shooters,” Zelensky was quoted as saying by Bolder. “That’s what’s happening now. You can always respond to all those missiles and those drones, but they’re going to keep coming as long as those Russian planes are able to take off and as long as the Russian launch facilities are not destroyed.” Bolder believes the United States will agree to this request. “I think America is really in a state of madness, and they can’t keep it dry any longer, and Zelensky has always gotten what he wants so far. Why can’t he get it now?”
innovation
Moreover, these Western restrictions certainly have their advantages. “Ukraine is very innovative now and only has a long-range hybrid drone, a rocket-powered drone.” The drone is very effective, but it will be some time before it goes into production. “Russian air defense is also extensive. If you’re going to hit the Russians where it really hurts them, Russia has to respond. Then they also have to deploy anti-aircraft assets from the forward area all the way to Russia itself, which is better for the Ukrainian air force.
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