Posted on Mar 26, 2022
One Ukrainian family grieves the loss of their fighter pilot son
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https://www.npr.org/2022/03/24/ [login to see] /remembering-ukrainian-fighter-pilot-war-russia
As the war in Ukraine enters its second month, the defenders continue to contest the skies and deny Russia control of the airspace above their country.
It remains a bitter air fight that comes at a high cost in lives and equipment. The independent Ukrainian outlet Ukrayinska Pravda keeps a running tab of destroyed Russian equipment atop its online news site. Ukraine's government claims that so far it has shot down at least 115 Russian jets and 125 helicopters.
Those claims can't be independently verified and most analysts think the true number of destroyed Russian aircraft is far smaller. Even so, it's a remarkable feat for Ukraine facing off Russia's much larger and more sophisticated air force.
As the war in Ukraine enters its second month, the defenders continue to contest the skies and deny Russia control of the airspace above their country.
It remains a bitter air fight that comes at a high cost in lives and equipment. The independent Ukrainian outlet Ukrayinska Pravda keeps a running tab of destroyed Russian equipment atop its online news site. Ukraine's government claims that so far it has shot down at least 115 Russian jets and 125 helicopters.
Those claims can't be independently verified and most analysts think the true number of destroyed Russian aircraft is far smaller. Even so, it's a remarkable feat for Ukraine facing off Russia's much larger and more sophisticated air force.
One Ukrainian family grieves the loss of their fighter pilot son
Posted from npr.org
Ukraine
Russia
Flying
Posted >1 y ago
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@PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
Almost on a daily basis, we're reminded of the resilience of the Ukrainian people. There's a lot about them to unpack, understand, and emulate. Numbers aside, it's far more noteworthy to see them stand their ground and fight, ready to pay the ultimate sacrifice for their country against a vaunted and more powerful force. Vaunted and powerful the Russians may be, but they lack the internal locus of control born of a group identity and loyalty to it, as well as a moral compass that's defined and emulated from the top down. When their leaders push them to put their lives on the line for a land they have little or no stake in due to the disparate separation of the haves and the have-nots, it doesn't exactly create a motivated fighting force. The Russians are fractured because the hearts and minds of the many have not been 'won' by the opportunistic few ultra-rich leeches who sit back and watch.
Almost on a daily basis, we're reminded of the resilience of the Ukrainian people. There's a lot about them to unpack, understand, and emulate. Numbers aside, it's far more noteworthy to see them stand their ground and fight, ready to pay the ultimate sacrifice for their country against a vaunted and more powerful force. Vaunted and powerful the Russians may be, but they lack the internal locus of control born of a group identity and loyalty to it, as well as a moral compass that's defined and emulated from the top down. When their leaders push them to put their lives on the line for a land they have little or no stake in due to the disparate separation of the haves and the have-nots, it doesn't exactly create a motivated fighting force. The Russians are fractured because the hearts and minds of the many have not been 'won' by the opportunistic few ultra-rich leeches who sit back and watch.
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel
SMSgt Anil Heendeniya Call Me an Old "Cold War Spook" telling Russia, the Soviets "FU" has always been My Favorite Game!
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Ukraine won't say how many of its pilots, planes and other air assets have been lost. Some analysts believe the number is at least 22 aircraft, including several Su-25 attack planes, Su-27s, and at least three MiG-29 fighter jets.
One of the Ukrainian MiG pilots was Maj. Stepan Tarabalka. He was killed when his plane was shot down on March 13, according to the Ukrainian military and his family.
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Unfortunately, trying to compete with the Russians on number of aircraft in the skies would be nearly impossible for the Ukrainians
One of the Ukrainian MiG pilots was Maj. Stepan Tarabalka. He was killed when his plane was shot down on March 13, according to the Ukrainian military and his family.
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Unfortunately, trying to compete with the Russians on number of aircraft in the skies would be nearly impossible for the Ukrainians
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