Aviation Finance as an Instrument of Power

War, and its resulting sanctions, create financial damage worldwide, including in aviation.

Thursday, March 03, 2022 at 10:08 AM ET

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Lt. Gen. Vasyl Nikiforov and Maj. Gen. Don Ralph Nikiforov sit in an Ukrainian SU-27 preparing for an upcoming flight. {Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]

Key Takeaways:

Nations supporting Ukraine are primarily employing economic pressure, rather than military force, as a powerful tool to counter Russian aggression.
Sanctions have severely impacted Russia's aviation sector through airspace bans, grounding of aircraft, and financial losses, isolating the country and its citizens.
Broader economic measures, including asset freezes, the ruble's collapse, and the decimation of Russia's financial markets, are designed to inflict a deep recession and compel an end to the conflict.

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As aviation enthusiasts, it’s easy for us to picture how a strike force of F-22s, F-35s, F-15Cs, and F-16CJs could return Ukrainian air supremacy to its rightful owners. However, military force isn’t always the right tool for the U.S. to use.

Thankfully, the nations who support freedom for the people of Ukraine have other instruments of power at their disposal. In some ways, those tools will inflict more harm on Russia than any bomb or missile.