Somewhat suspicious about the Polish planes that were supposedly not lent.

[ColinC]

Been seeing a lot of footage on twitter of supposedly abandoned russian convoys and equipment over the last couple days (allegedly out of fear of air strikes). This is on top of the seemingly enormous Russian casualties estimated by the Ukrainian government.

When news of the MiGs being lent hit the news, it seemed to be a given. Everybody assumed it was happening and there were reports of pilots in Poland picking up the jets. It wasn't until the next day that we found out no planes were actually lent. Then Zelenskyy publicly asks for them, and then he meets with congress. All the while Russia's biggest victories are still one major city and a couple power plants.

This might be my tinfoil hat talking, but is it possible that the MiGs WERE actually lent to Ukraine when it was reported, but the EU and US and Zelenskyy decided to keep it under wraps so that Russia would underestimate Ukraine's air power?

[left-of-center2012]

1. Aren't 'migs' Russian aircraft ?

Since Poland is a part of NATO,
Would they be flying Russian aircraft ?

[ColinC]

2. Poland was a satellite state of the USSR. Their older equipment includes

Aged MiGs. Most former Soviet states still might utilize MiGs as part of their air force now leftover from what they utilized from USSR decades ago.

But to answer your question, they don't fly MiGs anymore, which is why they have considered giving them to Ukraine (or gave them to Ukraine and said they changed their minds )

[mitch96]

7. Cheap left overs. Russian equipment on the open market is comparatively inexpensive

when up against the F16/Gripen/Dessault aircraft. Cheap, easy to build and reasonably effective. Think volkswagen bug vs Ferrari...
m

[Amishman]

3. Poland is reluctant to reduce the size of their airforce, even temporarily

Supposedly there are negotiations ongoing to arrange to quickly backfill the lost airpower with US made fighters (which they already use extensively)

[ColinC]

4. With the impracticality of getting through the bureaucracy,

I would speculate that Poland either provided the jets and lied about it -along with all relevant world leaders or (more likely), there will be no planes provided to Ukraine and neither the EU or US intends to help Ukraine with them.


That being said, it is hard to believe that the military success of Ukraine so far (holding most major cities, fending off assaults, stopping and destroying parts of convoys and getting so many Russians to abandon their vehicles -along with a supposed +11k casualty count) , doesn't have something more going on than meets the eye.

[OnDoutside]

5. It's probably a combination of factors, not least Russia's logistical issues

though you will note that they're making more progress in the harder ground of Southern Ukraine. We've got to hope that by the time the ground hardens in the north, those airplane issues you mention, will have been resolved. Good news that they estimate that fuel trucks have actually been a particular target and over 60 russian fuel tankers have been destroyed. That coupled with the increased use of surface to air missiles will help a lot.

[ColinC]

6. ...

Keeping my fingers crossed no matter what! Hopefully things go the right direction all in all.

[mitch96]

8. "This might be my tinfoil hat talking".. sounds reasonable to ME!!......nt