Comments by "Luredreier" (@Luredreier) on "MIG-29 deliveries are underway, but is the Soviet-era jet up to the task in Ukraine? | DW News" video.

4:08 The problem for Ukraine is that they're running low on ammunition for their long range air defense assets, something that NATO just doesn't really make, and Russia is attacking Ukraine from beyond the range of the non-sovirt era air defenses of Ukraine. Making them capable of dismantling the Ukrainian air defenses bit by bit. Modern western fighter jets with long range air to air missiles would cover that gap in Ukrainian capabilities allowing them to continue to deny their airspace to the Russians. These jets aren't really good enough to do that even though they'll definitely help. Modern jets would also provide offensive capability that would be useful.
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@realnapster1522 That's a assumption. They may very well win the war. Russia has already had more casualties then other wars they've lost. Russia is very much beatable when they're fighting offensive wars. It's a lot harder to beat them in a war where they're fighting in defense of their homeland. But that's not the objective of Ukraine. Russia doesn't have the capability to break through Ukrainian front lines without air superiority. But Ukraine might have that capability. If we can ensure that Russia stays out of Ukrainian airspace...
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@Travis26X Ukraine knows that doing anything against western will risks losing support they depend on. Giving them that capability isn't a risk simply because while they may become capable of pushing into Russia they would likely lose the overall war if we stopped our support at any point.
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@idawulan6789 S 300 has a longer range then AIM 120 etc. The Soviet AA systems also works better in a situation where you don't have a big integrated air defense network then the western systems does. Losing the capabilities of their S300 does cost them some capabilities that western systems can't replace even if those western systems do help. They're going to need at least some modern fighters to get that capability. Doesn't have to be the latest and greatest. No F35s. But a Gripen or even a relatively modern configuration of a F16 would do wonders for them.
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@Travis26X Sorry, but I'm fairly sure that you're just wrong there. The Russian military and Wagner are both pretty much fully engaged. Russia is trying to build up new forces, but they're having trouble with that. Ukraine is doing just fine at defending against them. Their main problem is a lack of ammunition and money. Without western support they would have run out of ammunition. Anti-tank and anti-air weapons from the west is also helpful and reduces Ukrainian casualities. But you're underestimating just how capable their army actually is and was at the start of the war. The reason why Russia is pushing forward in Bakhmut etc is that it's Ukraine that hasn't engaged all their forces yet since they're trying to build up new units of their own behind the front for new operations. Ukraine is actually slightly outnumbering the Russians in terms of personnel right now even if they're outnumbered in terms of equipment. Russia just have way more tanks, planes and artillery pieces then Ukraine. And more modern ones as well in most of these areas although Ukraine is about to surpass them in tanks and armored personell carriers. Tactically the Ukrainians are actually superior to their Russian foes. As for striking Russia, yes, they're absolutely doing so, and already have. That's not the point. They're keeping that at a minimum. It's more that they won't actually march into Russia because they don't want to lose western support. Our support is keeping their economy afloat. And it's helping them logistically. Something they desperately need. They also need the sanctions against Russia in order to have any chance of winning. If they can make a opening in the Russian defenses for their armor to exploit they'll easily push deep into Russian lines. And honestly I think they're capable of doing so, even if it might end up being costly.
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@theconnoisseur2346 Air to ground missiles doesn't help Ukraine with defending their troops and military assets (as well as civilians and their infrastructure) from enemy weapons in the air. Russia is currently able to engage Ukrainian ground targets from outside the range of Ukrainian air defenses. And their fighters can engage Ukrainian fighters at about 4x the range of the radars of the Ukrainian fighters... If they also run out of air defense missiles their ability to keep the Russian airforce outside their own core territory will be diminished.
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