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Putin of Russia illegally annexed four regions where fighting is raging. The Ukrainian victories came as President Vladimir V.

Russia’s Retreat: After significant gains in eastern cities like Lyman, Ukraine is pushing farther into Russian-held territory in the south, expanding its campaign as Moscow struggles to mount a response and hold the line.

Instead, Top Gun-style aerial dogfights, rare in modern warfare, are now raging above the country. Military analysts had expected Russian forces to quickly destroy or paralyze Ukraine’s air defenses and military aircraft, yet neither has happened. Nearly a month into the fighting, one of the biggest surprises of the war in Ukraine is Russia’s failure to defeat the Ukrainian Air Force.

“I don’t do any checks,” said Andriy, a Ukrainian Air Force pilot who as a condition of granting an interview was not permitted to give his surname or rank. He takes off so fast that he doesn’t yet know his mission for the night, though the big picture is always the same - to bring the fight to a Russian Air Force that is vastly superior in numbers but has so far failed to win control of the skies above Ukraine. LVIV, Ukraine - Each night, Ukrainian pilots like Andriy loiter in an undisclosed aircraft hangar, waiting, waiting, until the tension is broken with a shouted, one-word command: “Air!”Īndriy hustles into his Su-27 supersonic jet and hastily taxis toward the runway, getting airborne as quickly as possible.