A few days ago, in an attempt to regain the Krematorsk air base in the "separatist" eastern region, as part of the "counter-terrorist" offensive launched against the pro-Russians, Kiev also started what according to reports was an airborne press by Ukraine Mig fight jets. The condemnation by Russia to such an escalation against the country's own people was swift, and curiously, so was that by Ukraine's own troops which deserted the country's army [4]to join eastern forces, taking with them an unknown number of tanks and APCs.
So in what perhaps is a follow on attempt to preempt further escalation, Ukraine's air force has adopted a maneuver taken straight out of Top Gun's "Buzzing the Tower" approach, only this one involves "Buzzing the Tress."
As RT reports [5]:
The Ukrainian army is ramping up psychological pressure on regions engulfed in anti-government protests. The skies over cities in eastern Ukraine are resounding to the roar of attack helicopters and fighter jets.
The Ukrainian Air Force has deployed a number of military helicopters and fighter jets, which have taken to the skies above the cities of Kramatorsk and Slavyansk in the rebellious Donetsk region.
The authorities in Kiev of course realize that using military aviation against civilian protesters, the absolute majority of which remain unarmed, would be utterly insane.
So, an original ‘solution’ was found on how to make use of fighter jets to fight the mutiny in the Russian-speaking regions of the country.
Ukrainian pilots are now burning tons of expensive aviation fuel to frighten rebellious cities into compliance by roaring fighter jets above the heads of the activists.
RT's bias is well-known - as is that of the western media - but they should be commended for this bit of snark:
It must be noted that just several weeks ago the Kiev authorities announced a nationwide fund to supply the country’s army because it turned out that the troops are not only undersupplied and armed with outdated weapons, but also simply don’t have enough fuel to operate military hardware .
Commentators on the videos demonstrating the might of the Ukrainian Air Force note that during the years of independence Ukrainian authorities were somewhat lax in supplying enough fuel for training combat pilots. Now it appears that Ukrainian pilots are trying to make up for lost time by performing the kind of risky stunts they were deprived of for so many years.
Because there is nothing like Mig pilots practicing avoiding to hit tress as part of a mass psychological campaign to scare the restless eastern natives into submission. As for where they will get the funds needed to refuel their planes? Why from issuing the same "Military bonds" we reported about previously [6].
And while we await the eager public reception of said bonds, watch as a Ukraine pilot does a fly by and narrowly misses hitting a tree.