By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Poland responded to attacks in neighboring Ukraine by scrambling jets and activating its air defense systems. Ukraine utilized its full defense capabilities, including F-16 fighter jets, to counter the Russian assault. President Zelenskyy announced the death of an F-16 pilot, Maksym Ustymenko, who had downed seven aerial targets before his jet was damaged. The attacks, consisting of missiles, drones, and bombs, have increased significantly, prompting renewed calls for international support to protect Ukraine and pressure Russia to end the war.
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Russia hits Ukraine with the biggest attack of the war; that’s the stark reality we’re facing. The scale of this assault is something we haven’t seen before, a barrage of 537 missiles and drones targeting Ukraine. It’s a clear escalation, a sign that Russia isn’t backing down. Sadly, amidst the chaos, we have the tragic loss of an F-16 pilot, Maksym Ustymenko, a true hero who managed to take down seven enemy threats before falling. This hits hard, and it underscores the urgency of Ukraine’s need for more robust air defenses. The need for defense is the primary problem Ukraine faces right now and needs to be addressed before anything else is considered.
It’s hard to ignore the underlying intent: Russia’s pursuit of annihilation or subjugation, with Putin’s vision of a Ukraine subservient to Moscow. This extends beyond Ukraine itself, threatening to use Ukraine as a springboard to attack Europe. The writing is on the wall: Europe needs to fully support Ukraine to help them win and to protect itself. It’s a strategic imperative, a necessity to prevent a larger conflict.
It’s difficult to reconcile this with the fact that Russia appears stronger now than it did three years ago. What is happening is difficult to digest. But Russia’s actions, specifically the large-scale attack on Ukraine, do point to a troubling reality: Putin is determined to escalate.
Cheap and easily produced drones are flooding the battlefield, and that’s a significant factor. Ukraine is fighting hard, but there is the risk that Russia may find itself in a position of having a decisive advantage. Russia appears to be increasing their domestic production of everything, with their allies, China, keeping them afloat economically. The impact on Ukrainian cities, towns, and farmland will also be a major problem, and there’s no easy solution for it.
It’s a situation that necessitates strong air defenses, but we also need a change in the narrative. More countries are stepping up to provide aid to Ukraine, including the Netherlands who are planning to help fund drone manufacturing in Ukraine, as well as several European countries who are investing heavily in their own production capabilities. Russia can still launch missiles from submarines, and the world needs to acknowledge the need for more and better weapons to target these threats.
The need for aid and equipment is felt across the board, but this current situation is not just about Ukraine. The United States’ military-industrial complex appears stretched. It is important that Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan have an advantage.
Russia’s actions can no longer be tolerated. They need to be held accountable, and the international community needs to rally around Ukraine and help them get the weapons they need to defend themselves. The longer it takes to provide Ukraine with the support they need, the more costly the outcome will be.