On Wednesday morning, Russian soldiers commenced more bombardment on Ukrainian residential areas, causing substantial damage to a number of buildings. Luhansk’s regional military chief, Serhiy Haidai, said on his Telegram channel that high-rise buildings had been “significantly destroyed” and that there was “a lot of rubble”. The announcement comes only hours after Russia committed to reduce its “military operation” in Kyiv and Chernihiv, a declaration that has been regarded with scepticism both in Ukraine and throughout the world.

Russia claims to have “largely completed” its objectives for the first phase of the military campaign, while the fighting in Ukraine’s east and south continues.

According to the UK Ministry of Defence, Russia’s move to these regions is a “tacit acknowledgment” that it cannot continue to develop along more than one axis.

Ukrainians have battled heroically to defend their nation, with NATO equipment proving essential in the struggle against Putin.

A pilot told the BBC’s Ukrainecast this week that British-supplied ‘MANPADS’ (man-portable air defence systems) have been crucial in the Ukrainian war.

The pilot, whose true identity has been withheld for his own protection and security, is known as ‘Moonfish,’ and flies MiG-29 fighter planes.

When asked who is winning the air battle in Ukraine, he answered, “I am 100 percent certain that Russians do not have air supremacy over Ukraine at the time.”

“Only over the portions they’ve already stolen.”

Moonfish acknowledged that the Russians can use longer-range missiles and are better equipped, but he also explained the role of the UK in the fightback.

“Well, so far, we’re [winning the air battle],” he remarked.

“I think we’ll be able to protect our skies from Russians for a bit longer if we combine the efforts of our ground-air defence and fighters, especially if we get those reinforcements – Great Britain is supplying pretty strong MANPADS.”

He went on to say that Ukrainian forces are “getting ready” to “reclaim” the territory that Russia has already captured.

The United Kingdom has deployed Starstreak missiles, a form of MANPADS, to Ukraine as part of its ongoing support for Volodymyr Zelensky and his countrymen.

Thales Air Defence in Belfast developed the Starstreak missiles, which are “intended to offer near aviation defence against conventional air threats such as fixed wing fighters and late unmasking helicopter targets.”

Starstreak is described by Thales as a “really adaptable missile” that can be “deployed fast into operations and easily integrated into a force structure.”

Starstreak is said to be the world’s fastest short-range surface-to-air system, and it has been employed by British troops for the past 25 years.

They were erected on top of residential buildings near the Olympic Park ahead of the London 2012 Olympics, according to The i.

They are meant to be shot from a person’s shoulder or a tripod and can be used to shoot down aeroplanes and drones.

According to experts, MANPADS have been in the forefront of the Ukrainian counter-offensive, with films uploaded by Kyiv’s Ministry of Defence showing Russian helicopters and aircraft being shot down by surface-to-air missiles.

Mykola Bielieskov, a research fellow at Ukraine’s President’s National Institute for Strategic Studies, told DW News earlier this month: “These MANPADS are really important because they make Russian air attacks less effective.”

“You won’t shoot down every Russian plane and chopper if you deploy them in big numbers, but Russia would pay a high price for an attack.”

According to figures released by the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense on Wednesday morning, 131 Russian planes and 131 helicopters were destroyed, while Moscow has not released its own tally.

Nonetheless, President Zelensky believes that MANPADS alone are insufficient, and has repeatedly advocated for a no-fly zone above his nation.

Similarly, he has asked for Soviet-made MiG-29 and Su jet fighters, claiming that Russian forces substantially outnumber Ukraine’s.

The West, on the other hand, has been hesitant to establish both the no-fly zone and contribute aircraft, fearing that the war will grow further.