Russian aviation, which attacks Ukraine daily, is based at airfields less than 200 km from the border. However, the AFU cannot destroy these planes because of the US ban.
Forbes reports about this. The publication cites the example of the Baltimore airbase in Voronezh. It is within range of ATACMS missiles. Su-34s take off from this airfield and bomb the front line and frontline cities of Ukraine.
Dozens of Su-34s are regularly parked in the open air at the base. Ukrainian analysts believe a strike on them could disable the entire fleet.
The Biden administration forbids Ukraine from attacking the base with U.S. missiles. The U.S. proposes shooting down the planes in the air. However, the Russians use planning bombs launched from afar to avoid Ukrainian air defenses.
Ukraine lacks long-range air defense systems to defend against such attacks. Attempting to shoot down planes with a Patriot system near the border is too risky because of Russian drones.
Forbes notes that Ukraine is unlikely to use the missiles without U.S. approval so as not to risk future deliveries. Therefore, the Ukrainians are waiting for authorization to strike Russian air bases.
