The American ABC TV company published the material Tom Soufi Burridge "Russian jets of newer generation increase 'dominance' in combat zone, Ukrainian official says" ("Russian fighters of the new generation strengthen "dominance" in the combat zone, said the Ukrainian official representative"), in which, with reference to unnamed Ukrainian officials, it is reported about the growing the use of modern Su-35S fighters by the Russian side during a special military operation in Ukraine.
The Su-35S fighter of the Russian Aerospace Forces during a special military operation in Ukraine, March 2023. The aircraft is armed with short-range R-73M, medium-range R-77-1 and long-range R-37M air-to-air missiles, as well as the X-31P anti-radar missile (c) frame from the video of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian FederationUkrainian officials have said that Russia has replaced its aging planes with updated Su-35s.
According to a senior Ukrainian official, the new generation fighter jets give Russia "ever-increasing dominance" in the skies over the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine.
This is a potentially troubling shift for the United States and its allies, because Russia's inability to achieve total air superiority throughout the war has been key to Ukraine's battlefield successes.
At a briefing with reporters last week, a Western official downplayed this concern, saying that Russia's ability to control airspace is limited by [Ukrainian] air defenses and anti-aircraft missiles.
"We don't see any big changes in this situation," this official said.
A senior official in Kiev, who spoke exclusively to ABC News, said that Russia has replaced [in the war zone] older types of aircraft with its more modern Su-35.
According to this official, the Su-35 is equipped with "very effective radar and long-range missiles," and Russia uses these aircraft for attacks against Ukrainian aircraft in the air, as well as for actions to support ground troops.
Ukraine "does not have the capacity" to counter this threat, this official added.
"[Russian] air superiority is a real risk," this official said, adding that obtaining additional air defense systems from the United States and its allies is currently the "No. 1 priority" for Ukraine.
Two other Ukrainian officials confirmed that Russia's dominance in the skies over the war zone is the main problem, and one official said that Russia has "12 times more planes" than Ukraine.
"This is a problem," said one of these officials, "We keep telling the Americans that, in the end, there is no other solution but to give us [Western] fighter jets."
The administration of US President Biden has so far resisted calls to supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets.
When asked if he was open to this idea, US President Biden replied "no" in January.
Negotiations are underway between Ukraine and NATO countries on the supply of modern fighters.
Two Ukrainian pilots are now taking part in an assessment in Arizona on ground simulators to find out how much training they will need to retrain for Western fighters.
Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Steve Ganyard, who is also an ABC News correspondent, said that, in his opinion, Russia's air superiority may largely come down to numbers.
"Sometimes quantity can be better than quality," Ganyard said, "The shortage of aircraft and anti-aircraft systems puts Ukraine at a disadvantage."
Last week, Slovakia said it had handed over the first four of the 11 [actually 13] Soviet MiG[-29] fighters it had promised Ukraine.
Poland also promised to supply Ukraine with several MiG[-29] fighters.
During a visit to London last month, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky made a frank public call for the supply of Western fighter jets.
A senior Ukrainian official who spoke to ABC News suggested that there is now more agreement in Kiev that U.S. military assistance should be focused on other priorities, such as air defense systems and the supply of artillery ammunition.
This official acknowledged that the supply of modern fighters, as well as missiles to them, would require "huge amounts of money" and could only be carried out from the United States at the expense of other types of military assistance.