True Left

People in Moscow were asked about the impact of Russia's "special military operation" on Ukraine -- the Kremlin's wording for the invasion of its western neighbor. When questioned about what was gained or lost, some saw the attack as a "win," while others expressed unhappiness about the results.

When the war in Ukraine began, there were estimates that Russia would establish air superiority within a matter of days. But 9 months into the war, the skies over Ukraine are still contested. Why have Russia struggled to utilise their air power effectively? And how has the war in the air changed as a result?

We look at how Ukraine's air defences have created a denial of air space, and the history of surface to air missile systems, which has led to a lot of the SAMS in the war in Ukraine dating back to the Soviet era. As the skies have become more dangerous due to advanced SAM technology, we’ve seen the development of new systems to resist air dominance, such as new surveillance and combat drones.