The Sun

How Ukraine is winning the air war and destroying Putin's 'narrative'

Is Russia losing its grip on the air war in Ukraine? In this exclusive interview, Justin Bronk, Senior Research Fellow for Air Power at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), breaks down how Ukraine’s long-range and mid-range strike campaigns are fundamentally disrupting Russian military strategy. While these strikes inflict severe physical and economic damage on Russian infrastructure, Bronk argues that their biggest impact is political - directly shattering Vladimir Putin’s core narrative of stability to the Russian public. Video Chapters 00:00 - How Ukraine is Breaking Putin's Core Narrative 00:41 - Ukraine’s Long-Range & Mid-Range Strike Strategy 01:34 - How Russia’s Air Defences Are Being Stretched Thin 02:18 - The True Political & Economic Cost of Oil Refinery Strikes 03:00 - F-16s, Su-35s, and the Russian Glide Bomb Threat 03:40 - Are Attack Helicopters Obsolete Against FPV Drones? 05:00 - How Ukraine Built a Cheap, Highly Effective Air Defence Belt 06:33 - Why Fighter Jets Still Matter in the Age of Drones (China & Russia's Build-Up) 07:54 - Why Manoeuvre Warfare Has Stalled in Ukraine 08:58 - Fighter Jets Are Like Sports Cars: How Militaries Choose Their Jets We also explore: How Ukraine created a multi-layered, low-cost air defence belt to neutralise Russian drone waves. The changing role of attack helicopters in an airspace dominated by FPV drones and UAVs. Why Western nations are underestimating the continued necessity of modern, crewed fighter jets like the F-16 and F-35. The Sun brings you breaking news and in-depth analysis on the stories that matter most. From the ongoing war in Ukraine to conflicts in the Middle East and US and UK politics, we post updates as they happen. Expect the latest on major global events, pressing political debates, celebrity updates and exclusive royal family content, along with in-depth investigations and expert commentary. Get comprehensive coverage of Donald Trump's Presidency, Vladimir Putin's actions, and the unfolding drama of the British Royal Family. Subscribe now for daily updates and exclusive content from The Sun. https://www.youtube.com/c/thesun?sub_confirmation=1 👑 For the latest Royal news, subscribe to The Sun's Royal Exclusive YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RoyalExclusiveTheSun Read The Sun: https://bit.ly/3Tay1OY Like The Sun on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesun/ Follow The Sun on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thesun Subscribe to The Sun on Snapchat: https://www.snapchat.com/discover/The_Sun/1633225139 #ukraine #war #russia