Reporting on Russia's invasion of Ukraine (podcast)
In a new-look Shephard Defence Podcast, the news team discusses the rapidly-evolving situation in Ukraine and latest developments following Russia's unprovoked invasion.
Despite a tweet that has fuelled speculation, both the US and Ukraine have denied any transfer of entire fighter aircraft has occurred. (Photo: Ukrainian Air Force)
Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby confirmed yesterday that while the US is not providing entire aircraft to Ukraine, it has sent fixed-wing fighter parts to make defective systems operable again.
Kirby stated: ‘They, right now, have more fixed-wing fight aircraft available to them than they did two weeks ago, and that’s not by accident, that’s because other nations who have experience with those types of aircraft [helped] to get them running.’
The debate regarding offensive/defensive weaponry transfers has been raging since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February.
The US announcement last week, that it
Our news & analysis is now part of Defence Insight®
A Basic-level or higher Defence Insight subscription is now required to view this content.
In a new-look Shephard Defence Podcast, the news team discusses the rapidly-evolving situation in Ukraine and latest developments following Russia's unprovoked invasion.
Ukraine could obtain more 155mm howitzers — this time from Italy — as Kyiv seeks to tip the artillery balance against Russia.
Will Germany decide to provide ten medium-range SAM systems to Ukraine?
The Spanish Navy support vessel Reina Isabel returned to its homeport on 13 May after a mission to deliver arms, ammunition and Ukraine — although Kyiv did not receive everything it expected.
It seems appealing to fast-track pilot training by conducting most flights on simulators and omitting certain procedures if the West were to give more modern aircraft for Ukraine’s air force, but it might prove challenging in practice.
The sinking in April of the Russian Navy’s Black Sea flagship, although not evidence of a major change in the naval domain, is a far cry from the pre-emptive scuttling of Ukraine’s own flagship. The donation of increasingly advanced materiel demonstrates increased faith in Ukraine’s ability to resist the Russian invaders.