- 19 Αύγ 2023, 15:58
#831279
Θα καούν όπως κάηκαν και τα Leo...
Την απoυσία της RuAF που την είδες όμως; CNN μας κάνει; Άρθρο Ιουνίου 2023.
Two Ukrainian jets roar just above the trees, flying in formation as they make their way towards the front lines of Ukraine’s counteroffensive.
The Soviet-era Su-25s glide slowly, loudly, spewing thick black smoke as they go. They seem to hug the ground — flying as low as possible to avoid Russian radars, air defenses and more importantly, enemy jets.
The Su-25s are ancient aircraft, first introduced in the 1980s, and they’re easy prey for Russia’s Su-35s and their advanced radars and long range missiles.
“We lose many aircraft to these interceptors,” says Su-25 pilot Oleksyi, who goes by the callsign “Pumba.” He knows all too well the uphill battle he and his colleagues face, having lost many of his comrades since Russia’s full-scale invasion began a year and a half ago.
“I lost my [squadron] leader and my wingman in combat,” Pumba says. “They’re both heroes of Ukraine.”
The pain of losing those dear to him is a burden he still carries.
“When you see the explosion of your colleague in front of your eyes, in real time – it’s a shock,” he says, explaining the struggle doesn’t end there.
“The biggest battle is a battle with yourself, because you have to find some strength, some force within your soul, your spirit: how do you manage to fly again.”
Despite the mental strain, Pumba is one of a few dozen pilots still flying for the Ukrainian air force, defying overwhelming odds a year and a half into the war. With Ukraine now on the offensive (
ΧΑΧΑΧΑ, καλό κι αυτό το αστειάκι - δικό μου σχόλιο προφανώς, όχι του CNN), the role of assault aviation airmen like him is more needed than ever.
“The main purpose of this aircraft is to support our ground forces at the front,” he explains. “These days it’s our main mission.”
Limited in their numbers and reach, they still provide valuable air support.
“When we complete mission our guys on the ground send us thank you messages,” Pumba says. “I think we increase the morale of our ground forces too.”
One of the main issues Kyiv’s ground forces have faced as the counteroffensive gets underway is Russian air power holding them back. Russia still maintains air superiority, which makes it difficult for ground forces to advance.
“Their aviation works in waves, as it was in Vietnam, Afghanistan,” says a deputy commander in one of the units with the 128 Separate Territorial Defense Brigade said. “Continuously, all day long, they work either by helicopters or by airplanes,” said the commander, who goes by the call sign “Spas.”
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/21/euro ... index.htmlΠραγματικά, από που σκατά ενημερώνεστε;
Τελευταία επεξεργασία από REALZEUS και 19 Αύγ 2023, 16:13, έχει επεξεργασθεί 2 φορά/ες συνολικά
