On August 3, 2025 local time, the Ukrainian military reported that President Zelenskyy had announced the appointment of Major General Anatoly Kryvonozhko as the new commander of the Ukrainian Air Force. This was an order to replace the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force following the loss of a French-made Mirage-2000 fighter jet by the Ukrainian Air Force. It is reported that this Ukrainian air force commander, like the Chief of the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Syrskyi, has relatives living in Russia.

Screenshot of the report on the change of the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force by Ukrainian media on August 3

He himself is from Belgorod, Russia, but Belgorod is also an area where Ukrainians live. The Ukrainian authorities and the Ukrainian military previously strongly supported Russian defectors and Russian rebel groups such as the "Russian Freedom Legion" and the "Russian Mercenary Legion," trying to establish a state in the Belgorod region of Russia. Russia stated that the brother and the biological mother of the new Ukrainian air force commander live in the Shebekino district of the Belgorod region, Russia. Russia criticized that he, as a son, commands Ukrainian air force aircraft to bomb the areas where his mother lives.

The new commander of the Ukrainian Air Force is a MiG-29 fighter pilot

Russia's evaluation of the new Ukrainian air force commander seems quite positive. It is reported that Major General Anatoly Kryvonozhko, the new commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, was formerly a MiG-29 fighter pilot during the Soviet era and served as the commander of the "Rooster" fighter squadron of the Ukrainian Air Force. The Ukrainian Air Force he took over is a mess. It is said that the Ukrainian Air Force only has seven F-16 fighters, and after the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down a Mirage 2000 fighter jet, the French-made Mirage 2000 fighter jets of the Ukrainian Air Force disappeared from the front line.

The Russian Aerospace Forces shot down a Mirage 2000 fighter jet, but the Ukrainian authorities did not admit it

The Ukrainian Air Force's MiG-29, Su-27, Su-25 attack aircraft, and Su-24 bombers have very low operational rates in 2025, with very few sorties. For the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, the most critical issue at the moment is to restore the combat readiness of the Ukrainian Air Force's fighter jets or to organize effective defense against Russian cruise missiles and Iranian "moto-bikes."

The Ukrainian Air Force failed to intercept the Iranian "moto-bike"

On August 3, the Ukrainian Air Force launched an ineffective interception of the Iranian "moto-bike" and Shahed-136 suicide drones launched by the Russians: the Ukrainian Air Force used a propeller trainer plane, the Yak-52, to chase the Iranian "moto-bike" and Shahed-136 suicide drone above Odessa. It is reported that this Ukrainian propeller aircraft chased the Iranian "moto-bike" for almost an hour. A propeller plane intercepting an Iranian "moto-bike" has very low combat efficiency and carries the risk of being destroyed by the Iranian "moto-bike" itself. Why didn't they shoot it? The Yak-52 is a trainer aircraft, perhaps because the Ukrainian military didn't install machine guns due to the emergency situation?

Russian forces are developing small carts inside pipelines

On August 3, 2025 local time, Ukraine again reported rumors that Russian suicide assault teams might drill into the Kyiv area through the gas pipeline between Belarus and Ukraine, causing panic and debate within Ukraine. This is not the first time that such claims have been made in Ukraine about Russian suicide teams attempting to emerge from underground tunnels in Kyiv. In response, the Ukrainian authorities suggested that since Russia continues to develop transportation equipment inside pipelines, the Ukrainian government should shut down all energy pipelines connecting Russia with Belarus and Ukraine to prevent Russian suicide assault teams from emerging through these energy pipelines.

Russian suicide teams plan to continue using gas pipelines for operations

However, closing these energy pipelines would leave no oil or natural gas inside, making it even easier for Russian suicide assault teams to enter. Would not the Ukrainians inject nitrogen into the pipelines? It can only be said that Ukraine is poor, and the current Ukrainian authorities do not even provide regular death benefits to ordinary soldiers. At present, the Russians have indeed developed many tools and trolleys capable of transporting inside energy pipelines. The Russian pipeline warfare has left deep scars on the Ukrainian army.

Original article: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7534636776946696744/

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