In the last two weeks of February, the Russian aviation suffered the loss of 13 military aircraft, mainly Su-34 front-line bombers. What explains the sharp increase in losses of Russian military aviation?
Although the Ukrainian army has also hit Russian military aircraft in the past, for example by shooting down a highly valuable A-50 reconnaissance aircraft in mid-January and shooting down an Il-22 air command post over the Sea of Azov, 13 more Russian military personnel were shot down between February 17 and 29 alone aircraft, including ten Su-34 front-line fighter-bombers and one A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft.
According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London, Russia has about 300 different Sukhoi fighters. This suggests that the loss of 13 aircraft in just two weeks, and possibly some highly skilled pilots, is no small feat for Russian forces, the US-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) said.
Although Russia itself usually does not admit the loss of combat aircraft, even if footage appears on the network that confirms it, Ukraine does not always officially publish evidence of the destruction of aircraft.
Su-34 front-line bombers of the fourth generation have recently been actively used to drop adjustable air bombs (KABs). Russian troops, in particular, bombarded Avdiivka, which they had recently captured, with these powerful bombs.
According to the spokesman of the Air Force of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Yuriy Ignat, such bombings have become one of the main threats to Ukrainian soldiers and peaceful residents of the frontline territories.
Ukraine now needs modern fighter jets to counter Russian aircraft.
