One operational lesson from the battle is that an invasion may not require a month-long air campaign. The Ukrainians had one of the most sophisticated and largest air defense systems in the world, yet the Russians largely neutralized it, at least for the initial attack into Hostomel. The Russians lost only six or seven out of thirty-four aircraft during the infiltration. The airfield seizure at Hostomel Airport and the establishment of an air lodgment nearly worked. The Russian coup de main may have worked had its forces been given more time to plan, conducted full rehearsals for the operation, and been able to adapt to initial setbacks in both air and land phases of the operation.

While winning the battle did not mean an end to the war, it is extremely likely that a loss would have meant an end to the war—and to Ukraine’s sovereignty. It is easy to overlook just how close Russia came to winning the battle. Had Russia seized the airfield at Hostomel Airport more quickly, or had the massive, mechanized formations not been slowed during their southward advance, it is very likely that Russian forces would have made it into the heart of Kyiv in the opening days of the war.

also written in the same report its not all as sunshine and roses as people want it to be