In recent developments, Russian drone attacks have inflicted significant damage on Ukrainian air bases, highlighting a concerning air defense crisis. Yesterday, a Russian drone spotted six Ukrainian Sukhoi Su-27 fighters parked at Mirgorod air base, resulting in the destruction of two of these precious supersonic fighters. Today, a similar incident occurred at the Poltava air base, where an Iskander missile damaged a Ukrainian army Mil Mi-24 gunship helicopter.

The increasing frequency of Russian raids on Ukrainian air bases since last fall has raised alarms. Notably, the onslaught has already destroyed two Su-27 fighters, two Mikoyan MiG-29 fighters, a Sukhoi Su-25 attack jet, and potentially the Mi-24 gunship helicopter. These losses are a severe blow to the already battered Ukrainian air force and army aviation brigades, given their limited resources and lack of identical replacements.

While Ukraine is set to receive assistance from its European allies in the form of 85 Lockheed Martin F-16s and a dozen Dassault Mirage 2000s, these new aircraft, like their predecessors, remain vulnerable to attacks on the ground. This underscores the urgent need for enhanced air defenses to protect Ukrainian air bases.

However, the Ukrainian military is struggling to allocate sufficient surface-to-air missile systems, as they are faced with the simultaneous task of safeguarding cities, major troop concentrations, and front-line bases such as Mirgorod and Poltava airfields. Over the course of the wider war, the Ukrainians have lost approximately 140 of their 400 air-defense missile systems, acquiring only around a hundred replacements.

The Ukrainian armed forces have been forced to prioritize air cover for major cities due to the relentless Russian attacks. Consequently, airfields have been left relatively less protected, resulting in the recent surveillance and subsequent strikes. The lack of means to shoot down the Russian drone that was visible for three hours before the missile strike further highlights the vulnerability of these bases.

While Russia also grapples with protecting its air bases from Ukrainian missiles and drones, its larger number of bases and planes provide greater resilience to absorb losses compared to Ukraine. However, help is on the way for Ukraine. The United States has announced a $2.3-billion aid package that includes several air-defense systems, including long-range Patriot missiles and medium-range NASAMS missiles, scheduled for mid-July. Nevertheless, there remains a concern that these new defenses may end up prioritizing city protection instead of safeguarding air bases.

In an attempt to fill the gap, the Ukrainian military has formed short-range air defense teams equipped with gun-armed trucks. However, their effectiveness in countering the Russian drones and missiles remains questionable, as they either failed to detect the surveillance or were unable to neutralize the threats.

As the air defense crisis deepens, urgent measures are required to fortify Ukrainian air bases against further attacks. The assistance from the United States, along with a comprehensive strategy, will be vital to ensure the protection of these critical assets and address the glaring vulnerability that exists within the Ukrainian armed forces' air defense capabilities.