Ukrainian Su‑27 fighter jets have successfully struck a Russian command post in Lysychansk, demonstrating their ability to penetrate dense air defences in occupied Donbas. Reserve colonel and pilot‑instructor Roman Svitan told Channel 24 that the very presence of Ukrainian aircraft so deep into enemy territory signals that Kyiv’s air force is growing in confidence and capability.
Lysychansk lies well beyond the frontline near Bilohorivka, and its oil refinery and command centres have long been shielded by layered anti‑aircraft systems established over the past decade. Mountains rising 300 – 350 metres give Russian surface‑to‑air missile units an added advantage, yet Ukrainian pilots have adapted tactics to evade detection. Svitan suggested that precise strikes on key nodes might also have employed US‑supplied HIMARS rockets to soften defences before the aerial assault.
Beyond targeting command posts, Ukrainian warplanes play a crucial role in intercepting Russian ballistic missiles and combat drones. Recent missile barrages have claimed dozens of civilian lives far from the frontline, underlining the urgent need for stronger air defences. Deliveries of Patriot surface‑to‑air systems have slowed, leaving gaps that domestic manufacturers are striving to fill. Local missile makers are racing to meet demand even as Russian air raids threaten their factories.
