Hinting at effective weapons against aircraft and apparent Russian attacks, Ukraine's ambassador to Japan, Sergei Korsunsky, announced today that his country will soon be able to better protect its airspace and cities from Russian assaults, as it anticipates receiving "advanced" military equipment from the United States and the United Kingdom. In a press conference, he stated, "Russia still has the upper hand in air power, aircraft, and missiles, but we expect Ukraine to begin receiving advanced equipment from the United States and the United Kingdom to protect its skies and cities."
Korsunsky continued, as reported by Reuters, "When they launch cruise missiles from a long distance, we cannot reach the launch site. We need to intercept them. This is why we need that modern equipment." It is worth noting that cruise missiles can be launched from ground, air, or sea platforms due to their continuous propulsion and significant maneuverability that exceeds ballistic missiles, even though the latter are faster. These missiles can remain inside the atmosphere for the duration of their flight, powered by jet engines. However, many missile and air defense systems can intercept them, in addition to other Russian missiles.
Air Superiority of Russia
Since the onset of the Russian military operation on February 24, Kyiv has continually appealed to NATO countries to impose a no-fly zone over its skies or provide it with lethal weapons and aircraft to balance Russia's air superiority. However, Western countries have explicitly ruled out supplying fighter jets or even a no-fly zone, sending various weapons, including missiles and defense systems, out of fear of escalating the conflict. Russia has repeatedly warned the West against sending lethal offensive weapons to Ukraine, especially from neighboring countries, asserting that it would consider them hostile nations involved in Moscow's military operation against its western neighbor.
