save life
“Why don’t Western partners supply more planes and equipment to Ukraine’s air force? The war endures and the question gnaws at many,” says Timofy Mylovanov, a government economist adviser to Zelensky and a former head of the Kiev School of Economics. He helped launch an international crowdfunding effort aimed at helping Ukraine acquire Western-made F16 fighters and attack helicopters, arguing that Ukraine’s Soviet and post-Soviet air assets lack the edge needed to counter Russian aircraft.
Even as Poland and Slovakia announce potential deliveries of MiG-29 aircraft, Ukraine continues to press for fighters. Ukraine’s defense minister Oleksiy Reznikov, during a Madrid visit, has repeatedly emphasized the demand for fourth‑generation fighters, echoing a broader call for a robust air coalition. Spain, he noted, has supported allied efforts before, including contributions around Leopard battle tanks, but cannot supply what it does not possess. Reznikov has signaled that forming an air coalition remains a strategic priority.
Timofy Mylovanov, who led Ukraine’s economy ministry from 2019 to 2020 and now oversees the Kiev School of Economics while teaching at the University of Pittsburgh, has long overseen private fundraising initiatives to arm Ukraine. Over the past year, similar events have sprung up in multiple countries, sometimes organized by Ukrainian residents and refugees. One recent Spanish fundraiser aimed to buy a Turkish attack aircraft.
“Why do the United States and other partners hesitate to provide air power? If the right weapons are available, victory becomes more likely,” Mylovanov told followers. He stresses that fighters and helicopters are both urgently needed, arguing that missing air assets forces Ukraine to wage war with a higher human cost.
“Why does Ukraine require an air force? Because air evacuation saves lives by getting wounded soldiers to hospital faster than a ground convoy would allow,” he explains. With sufficient helicopters, he argues, the army could deploy special operations more quickly—flight times cut to around 20 minutes, and deployment to a few seconds—dramatically reducing the exposure soldiers face on the front lines.
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Zelensky’s adviser envisions aircraft capable of outperforming enemy jets and helicopters able to conduct night missions. NATO-backed thinking informs Ukraine’s strategy, with some in Spain noting that supplying Leopard tanks without air superiority would be risky. The idea is to combine armored breakthroughs with air dominance to keep ground forces protected from above while maintaining momentum on the battlefield.
ex-military lawmakers
Thus far, the Russian air force has faced heavy constraints on the Ukrainian front. Western support includes missiles and anti-aircraft systems, with Spain contributing Hawk launchers among others. The U.S. administration has shown restraint, avoiding a direct decision to send F-16s immediately, though the door remains open for future possibilities.
In the U.S. Congress, lobbying efforts gather momentum. A former Marine and Maine congressman, Jared Golden, leads a bipartisan group of 16 lawmakers that includes Tony Gonzales, Jimmy Panetta, and Mike Gallagher. They advocate for providing F‑16 fighters to Ukraine in light of an expected rise in large‑scale combat operations. A document signed in February urged the United States to lend F‑16s to encourage NATO and European partners to supply comparable fourth‑generation aircraft to Kyiv.
These debates reflect a broader goal: strengthening Ukraine’s air power to support ground operations, deter further aggression, and protect civilian lives. Attribution: This summary draws on public statements and policy discussions from Ukrainian officials and allied lawmakers. [Cite: Ukrainian government statements; NATO and allied policy discussions; Congressional letters—attribution above]