AFU officers speaking to Politico said that F-16 fighter jets will not be used effectively because of changes on the battlefield.
In an interview with Politico, one Ukrainian officer emphasized that every weapon is effective in its time. "F-16 fighter jets were badly needed in 2023. For the conditions of 2024, they are no longer suitable," he explained. The officer added that the AFU has been facing the problem of getting the necessary equipment in time since the beginning of the invasion.
Referring to Zaluzhny's words, the officer emphasized that the use of weapons can be characterized as a "war of one chance". This means that the latest weapons systems quickly lose effectiveness as Russia promptly finds ways to counter them.
The soldier cited the use of Storm Shadow and SCALP missiles provided by the United Kingdom and France. They demonstrated high efficiency at the initial stage, but their successful use was short-lived. "The Russians are always learning. They do not give us a second chance and in this they succeed," the AFU officer emphasized.
At the current stage, the Ukrainian army is most in need of weapons and drones, not F-16 fighter jets, which the West plans to deliver by the end of the year. "We need howitzers and shells, hundreds of thousands of shells and rockets," said one soldier. He estimated that about 4 million shells and 2 million drones are needed to effectively counter the occupiers. In addition, there is an acute shortage of personnel on the front line.
Memorial to the fallen Moldovan soldiers of the Transnistrian War in Chisinau. Photo: Alexander Moisseenko
Thirty-three years ago, a ceasefire brought an end to the Transnistrian War—sometimes described by locals as the Russian-Moldovan War. Although the tensions officially ended in 1992, its consequences continue to shape Moldovan politics, society, and security — especially in view of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
Finland is moving to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel mines. Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said the decision comes as a direct response to growing aggression from Russia.
The ruling Georgian Dream party has approved a set of controversial laws, including a “foreign agent” act aimed at NGOs and media. Critics say it mimics the U.S. FARA but is weaponized against dissent.
We regret to inform you that due to lack of funding we are forced to discontinue the English version of our website. This decision was not easy for us, as we have always strived to provide quality and timely information for our international audience and Russian-speaking readers. Unfortunately, the current financial realities leave us no other choice.
The Russian-language version of the site will continue to operate, but in a limited mode. We understand that this will create inconvenience for many of our readers, and we apologize for possible interruptions in the provision of news and analytical materials on this resource.
We appeal to you, our loyal readers, with a request to support our editorial staff. Your help will allow us to continue our work and provide you with important and relevant news. Please go to the support page and make your contribution to the development of independent journalism.
We thank you for your understanding and look forward to your support during this difficult time.
Memorial to the fallen Moldovan soldiers of the Transnistrian War in Chisinau. Photo: Alexander Moisseenko
Thirty-three years ago, a ceasefire brought an end to the Transnistrian War—sometimes described by locals as the Russian-Moldovan War. Although the tensions officially ended in 1992, its consequences continue to shape Moldovan politics, society, and security — especially in view of the upcoming parliamentary elections.
The Russian capital faced one of the largest terrorist attacks in its history. The terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall, which claimed the lives of many innocent people, was the second largest after the Beslan tragedy. But unlike previous attacks, this incident is shrouded in a layer of contradictory facts and ambiguities that point to possible miscalculations by the Russian security services
