In an exclusive interview with Reuters on January 12, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, commander of the Ukrainian ground forces, said: "The A-10 is an option if they are given to us. This is not a new machine but it is a reliable one, has proven its capabilities in many wars and has many weapons to destroy ground targets to help the infantry."
A-10s (center) and F-16s (sides) during an exercise in South Korea
The A-10 is a subsonic attack aircraft, manufactured in the United States and deployed since the 1970s. This fighter has participated in many conflicts and is often used for ground attack and infantry support.
In an interview at an undisclosed location in Ukraine's northeastern Kharkiv province, commander Syrskyi said the A-10 would provide vital support to ground forces as Kyiv seeks to gain an advantage on the battlefield.
Saving artillery shells waiting for aid, what will Ukraine use instead?
“This aircraft is intended for destroying ground targets, from tanks, artillery, everything that is against infantry,” the Ukrainian commander said, adding that attack helicopters such as the AH-64 Apache, AH-1 Super Cobra and UH-60 Black Hawk will also play an important role.
Since the start of the war, Ukraine has been calling on its Western partners to provide increasingly advanced weapons, from armored vehicles, tanks, long-range missiles to F-16 fighter jets. Training of Ukrainian pilots on F-16s is ongoing and the first batch of aircraft is expected to arrive in Ukraine this year, but the impact of the fighter jets is unclear.
Mr. Oleksandr Syrskyi in an interview with Reuters
Ukraine has also called for more aid, but a US aid package is being blocked by lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
Regarding the war situation, Mr. Syrskyi said that Russia is on the offensive in some eastern regions and the fighting is still fierce, while Ukraine is carrying out small counterattacks. "This is active defense because we are not only defending but also constantly counterattacking, and in some directions we are even going on the offensive," Mr. Syrskyi said.
Despite the near-stalemate, Syrskyi believes that future breakthroughs are still possible. “I think there are always opportunities. You just have to find them and take advantage of them,” Syrskyi said. The commander also said that Russia cannot build a solid defense everywhere. Therefore, there will always be weak spots due to terrain or other factors.
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