Training courses for Ukrainians wrapped up in recent days as the U.S. “What the Donbas requires are the kinds of capabilities we’re focused on providing the Ukrainians.” “The gun battles are real, and they’re happening every day from both sides,” Kirby said. Kirby would not rule out Ukraine’s use of short-range air defenses in Donbas, but he underscored that the type of assistance has changed.
Kirby said Russia continues to strike Ukraine from the air, though Russian pilots maintain “risk aversion,” choosing to fly the majority of their missions and fire from inside Russian territory.
“We’re focused on providing the Ukrainians in these recent weeks artillery, long range fires,” Kirby said in response to a question from Air Force Magazine. With a $33 billion supplemental before Congress and just $250 million in presidential drawdown authority remaining, the Pentagon is catering to Ukraine’s need for more artillery rather than air defense systems such as Stinger missiles, the Pentagon said May 6. Wright-Patterson could not immediately respond to a request by Air Force Magazine for comment.
