Their opposition is the heavily modernized Russian air force (and Russian navy naval aviation) with ~500 combat jets. Some are the dreaded Su-35S Flanker-E. The Russian air force many many miles ahead of the Ukrainians not only in equipment but also combat experience. The Russian air force pilots had at least 6 years of active combat in Syria while the Ukrainian jocks are noticably absent/grounded from the fighting in Donbass since late '14 or early '15.
Not to mention its pilot are leaving en masse because of bad pay and antiquated Soviet era bureaucracy.
Captain Vadym Voroshylov used to be a fighter pilot with Ukraine’s 204th Tactical Aviation Brigade based in Lutsk… - Jul. 31, 2021. By Illia Ponomarenko
www.kyivpost.com
Again pointing out the fact that while successive Ukrainian government had always claimed that Ukraine is following NATO standards, facts on the ground remain in the opposite direction.
“Such education and introduction of new approaches should occur either simultaneously at all levels or starting from the top tier of the chain of command—it will not work otherwise.”[1] Executive Summary After seven years of war, the Ukrainian defense system has not reformed. The reasons are...
jamestown.org