Un three-day ceasefire. After weeks of negotiations with a view to obtaining an unconditional fighting of fighting, this is the last offer from Russia: a cease-fire from May 8 to 10, intended to preserve the ceremonies celebrating the 80th anniversary of the victory against Nazi Germany.
While Westerners demand from Vladimir Putin the suspension of hostilities for at least thirty days, the master of the Kremlin plays the watch and ensures the smooth running of the commemorations of the Great Patriotic War of which he willingly uses to cement his power. Washington judges the proposal “absurd” while kyiv denounces ” an attempted manipulation ”.
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Faced with Moscow’s obstinacy to continue the war, Donald Trump continues to blow hot and cold. He accuses Putin of “strolling it”, threatens him with new sanctions while ensuring that his counterpart wishes peace. In the meantime, the fighting is raging throughout the front line. On earth but also in the air.
On April 12, the Ukrainian authorities announced the death of Pavlo Ivanov pilot, 26, at the controls of an F-16, shot down by a Russian missile. It is the second hunting plane of American design that loses the Ukrainian army. Since the summer, it would have had a dozen F-16s in a total of seventy-dixes promised since summer. A fleet completed six mirage 2000s delivered by France. Squadron commander Ivan Smeretchanski, 30, Mig-29 pilot, details the course of air fights against the Russians.
The point: What assessment do you make from the performance of the combat aircraft that have been delivered to you?
Ivan Smeretchanski: We are very satisfied with the arrival of these planes. Thanks to the F-16 and the Mirage 2000 delivered by France, we manage to shoot down a large number of drones. One of my comrades even managed to destroy six successive targets, including two to the machine gun. I would give an additional point to the mirage which has excellent quality targets. We hit each time.
Last month, an F-16 was killed and its pilot, Pavlo Ivanov, was killed. What are the circumstances of the drama?
Pavlo was unlikely to get out of it. He was shot down by an R-37 missile pulled by a Sukhoï su-35 hunter. It is a very long and very powerful missile. When the command center informed Pavlo of the departure of the missile, it was already too late. This missile affects its target in almost 100 % of cases. There was no connection problem, simply it has elapsed too long before the information reached the pilot. I knew Pavlo well. I could have been on the cover when he killed terrestrial targets. She was a shy, very simple person. We sometimes rested together in Dnipro after our missions.
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How did the Russians adapt to the arrival of your new planes?
They adapt very quickly. They know the features of the F-16. Above all, they know that our missiles have a limited range, of the order of 50 to 70 kilometers. The missile that destroyed our F-16 had a range of 120 kilometers. During duels, we are very often losing. However, our targets capture their planes from far away, up to 150 kilometers. But we are unable to shoot them down. It is always difficult to understand the reasons why we refuse to equip us with more efficient missiles. It is a political decision that escapes us. We are given the minimum to defend ourselves. The only thing we do in good conditions is to destroy their Shahed drones.
Another element comes into play: the Russians know that our anti -aircraft defense systems are insufficient. Suddenly, they fly very high and penetrate in depth on our territory. They are aware that they are not at risk. It gives them a huge advantage.
If we let go, they will come back in five years
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How do you judge the situation on the front?
Right now, the forehead is very volatile. The Russians permanently attack in the Soumy, Kharkiv region, at the cost of important human losses. They want to gain ground to push us to withdraw from other territories in the context of possible negotiations.
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What do you inspire in discussions between the American administration and Russia for a peace agreement?
Where are the guarantees that we need to protect ourselves from Russians? There is no one. How can there be an agreement under these conditions? Knowing that at the start the Russians never respect the agreements they conclude. I also want war. But if the fire stops, we are not allowed to lower our guard. We must be ready to cope with any eventuality. You shouldn’t be illusing. If we let go of Crimea, they will return in five years to claim other territories. And in Europe, you will also be threatened.
What would be the consequences of an end of American aid?
It would pose a very big problem. When Trump decided to cut military aid to Ukraine in March, we immediately felt it. The suspension lasted a few days but our devices were immediately nailed to the ground due to lack of ammunition. Fortunately, everything quickly got back to normal.
To discover
The kangaroo of the day
Answer
Do you have a mascot like many pilots?
I have a little plush bear that was offered to me by my comrades. He accompanies me in all flights. When we discover the videos of our missions during the debriefings, I always want to show him the images. I said to him: “This is what we have accomplished today, you and me. »»
