[Global Issue+] Ukraine, once possessing Europe's largest air force, faces reasons behind its air defense network collapse

Russia, Airstrike on Vasylkiv Oil Depot Near Kyiv
Aircraft Reduced from 2,800 at Independence to 160

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunwoo Lee] Amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, damage is expanding in the capital Kyiv and across Ukraine. Since the beginning of the war, Ukraine's air force has reportedly lost air superiority and most major air defense facilities have been destroyed, making it unable to effectively repel Russian missile attacks and bombings.

Ukraine's air force, which was the largest in Europe immediately after gaining independence from the former Soviet Union, is said to have completely collapsed under Russia's offensive within just a few hours after the war began. This is presumed to be due to military downsizing that began in the 2000s and the sale of various strategic assets such as fighter jets, driven by corrupt regimes and military leadership over the years.

Oil Storage Explosion Southwest of Kyiv... Unable to Stop Russian Airstrikes

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

According to CNN on the 26th (local time), an explosion occurred at an oil storage facility in Vasylkiv, only 29 km from Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. It is reported that the oil storage was bombed during a missile attack as part of a Russian nighttime airstrike. Ukrainian authorities announced that the Vasylkiv airbase was also attacked and destroyed.

Earlier, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced on the 23rd that it had completely gained air superiority over Ukraine within about two hours after the war began and has continued nighttime airstrikes since then. Ukraine claims that some air defense facilities are still intact and are mounting counterattacks, but they are being helplessly subjected to airstrikes. This is presumed to be because Ukraine has not overcome its air force inferiority since the early stages of the war.

According to CNN, at the start of the war, Russia's air force personnel numbered about 165,000, while Ukraine had about 35,000, making Russia's forces more than five times stronger. When Ukraine gained independence from Russia in the early 1990s, it had the largest air force in Europe, but due to military downsizing and various weapons sales over the years, its air force strength has drastically declined.

Where Did Europe's Largest Air Force at Independence Go... Most Fighter Jets Sold to Russia

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Ukraine is known to have inherited a significant portion of the Soviet air force capabilities after gaining independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. In 1992, when Ukraine established its independent air force, it possessed about 2,800 aircraft including fighter jets and had 120,000 air force personnel. At that time, it was the largest in Europe.

This was because major Soviet combat aviation facilities were located in Ukraine just before independence, and many of the Soviet Union's main combat aircraft such as the Tu-160, MiG-29, and Su-27 were stationed there. Ukraine also had large-scale missile launch facilities, so its air force at independence was even considered a threat to Russia.

However, after independence, due to persistent political and military corruption, many fighter jets were sold back to Russia or scrapped due to budget shortages, causing Ukraine to fall to the status of having the weakest air force in Europe. According to the BBC, only about 160 aircraft were operational at the time of the current conflict with Russia.

Among the remaining approximately 35,000 air force personnel, most pilots had very limited flight hours. Ukrainian pilots reportedly flew only about 30 to 80 hours annually, far below the 180 hours per year required of NATO pilots. Both quantitatively and qualitatively, it was impossible to bridge the gap with Russia.

Ground combat is expected to become a prolonged war due to strong resistance from Ukrainian forces and civilians and the burden of urban warfare. However, with the air force unable to provide adequate support, there are concerns that it will be difficult to defend against Russia's multifaceted strategies going forward.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.