A possible explanation is that President Vladimir Putin built his war strategy on an assumption that Ukrainian defenses would easily fold.
Russia's failure thus far to win complete control of Ukrainian airspace has been a surprise, given Russian military strength and the importance of dominating the skies.
Still, the war's overall trajectory five days into the fighting seems to favor the Russians, at least militarily. Philip Breedlove, a retired Air Force general and former commander for NATO forces in Europe said, “I am pleasantly surprised that the air defense capability of Ukraine, even though diminished, has carried on as long as it has.”
The has European Union imposed a blanket flight ban on Russian planes, confirmed by European Union Commission head Ursula von der Leyen, according to the BBC.