Well... this plane was shot by Russia. So it's not really a malfunction or anything.
technically it was pro Russian ukranians/ seperatist based in donesk/luhansk, a detail often overlooked.
Speaking of Russia. Fear for them in the upcoming days/weeks might be justified as well... It will be (for lack of a better word) interesting to see how Putin handles the losses of the last couple of weeks.
Hopefully they will simply withdraw from Ukraine, likely with the statement "We have reached all of our goals in this special military operation.".
I guess its time for....
Jetflag's tactical analysis *cracks fingers. Caveat: this is how I see things, not how I'd like to see them.
I don't think Putin is as bothered by this as the west likes to dream up. Sure, its not a pretty look but by far any reason to pull out the nukes or gas can's. Had it been he would have officially declared war right now, (Strikes and missiles have occurred on internationally recognized Russian soil) and mobilized millions of troops to take care of "his embarrassment"
He has however, not.
At best he has gone shopping here and there to replenish the losses. and reasons for that are basically he still has what he wants.
- near full coastal control of Ukraine's (trade) harbors, exception being Odessa, but that one is severely compromised by Sea mines from both sides:
- near full control of the Luhansk/Donesk region. Two provinces who'll probably join the Russian federation in the coming months, and have been fighting a successful rebellion against the Ukrainian government for years now.
- A large land bridge between russia and crimea with still most of its vital infrastructure intact.
with this he, and this is important,
- has full control of
Most of Ukraine's large natural gas fields. (who're centered largely around said occupied areas)
- has Ukraine in a position where it
can't join NATO, seen as its in militairy conflict with another country.
Zelenski has been doing an amazing job on the moral side and international front where he's been able to steadily secure more and better weapons, Part courtisy of his background in media. These, however, will run out sooner then later. The threat of a Taiwan conflict is looming for the US, The market is on Putin's side in terms of economy and with the Russian Winter on the doorstep its safe to say that time is on Putin's side.
All he has to do is hold the line in the aforementioned provinces.