Ukraine's armed forces say they have shot down 13 Russian warplanes in two weeks. This is a very sharp increase compared to the previous months of the war.
In mid-January, it became known that the Ukrainian Air Force shot down a Russian A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft and an Il-22 flying command post. In addition, the Russian authorities accused Ukraine of shooting down a Il-76 military transport near Belgorod on January 24.
But already in February, the number of downed Russian planes increased rapidly. In total, from February 17 to 29, the Ukrainian military shot down 13 Russian aircraft, according to the command of the Armed Forces.
So, on the afternoon of February 17, two Su-34 fighter-bombers and a Su-35 fighter were hit. Another Su-34 crashed the next day.
On February 19, the Air Force reported the downing of an Su-34 and a Su-35S fighter, and on February 21 – another Su-34.
In the evening of February 23, it became known about the crash of the DRLV A-50 aircraft in the Krasnodar region of the Russian Federation. The Ukrainian authorities said that it was a joint operation of the Air Force and military intelligence.
According to the Armed Forces, two more Su-34 bombers were shot down on February 27. And at once three of the same planes were apparently shot down in the east of Ukraine in the morning and afternoon of February 29.
Thus, in two weeks, the Russian Federation lost 13 aircraft, 10 of which were Su-34 bombers. This 4th-generation aircraft is designed for launching missile-bombing attacks on enemy ground and air targets. It is armed with aerial bombs, including KAB 1500 and KAB 500.
In total, as of February 29, the General Staff of the Armed Forces reported the loss of 345 military aircraft by Russia.
AUTHOR OF THE PHOTO, MYKOLA OLESHCHUK Caption for the photo, Commander of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykola Oleshchuk released this photo on February 27. According to him, the photo captures the moment of the fall of the Russian Su-34 plane shot down by the Ukrainians.
In most cases, the leadership of the Russian Federation did not recognize the loss of airships, even if photo and video evidence of this appeared on the Internet.
The Ukrainian authorities also published evidence of damage to enemy aircraft only in some cases. It is impossible to independently verify this data.
How is this possible?
AUTHOR OF THE PHOTO, THE MINISTRY OF DEFENSE OF THE RUSSIA Caption of the photo, Departure of the Russian Su-34 bomber for combat work in Ukraine
Kyiv's statements about the rapid increase in the number of downed planes are taking place against the background of significant delays in the supply of Western ammunition, including missiles for air defense systems.
According to military analysts, it is quite possible that Ukraine shoots down Russian planes using surface-to-air missiles for the American PATRIOT complex. The American publication Forbes reported that Ukrainians use not only PATRIOT, but also Norwegian anti-aircraft missile systems NASAMS.
At the same time, the source of the Ukrainian Air Force in the GUR indicates that the Russian A-50 over Russia was shot down by a modified Soviet S-200 complex.
The higher number of Russian planes claimed to have been shot down recently suggests that "Ukraine has become more aggressive in risking PATRIOT launchers near the front line to harm Russian planes," Justin Bronk, senior research fellow at the Royal Institute, told the BBC of defense research (RUSI).
The increase in the number of downed aircraft may also be related to the placement of these aircraft closer to the front line in Ukraine.
Russia actively uses Su-34 bombers to drop guided aerial bombs (ABMs). This powerful weapon was massively used by the Russians to destroy the residential quarters and infrastructure of Avdiivka, and now Chasovoy Yar and Kurakhovo.
The military say that KAby is now one of the big problems for the Armed Forces at the front. The Russians use them in very large quantities.
PHOTO AUTHOR, EPA Photo caption Military analysts believe that Ukraine is actively using American PATRIOT systems to shoot down Russian planes.
The spokesman of the Air Force of Ukraine, Yuriy Ignat, in an interview with "Ukrainian Pravda" did not directly confirm that PATRIOT and NASAMS were used to destroy the planes, but he did not deny it either.
"We have and have developed instruments that are capable of detecting Russian aircraft at long distances. It is clear which systems can do it," he said.
At the same time, Ignat emphasized that Western air defense systems, such as PATRIOT and NASAMS, are primarily used to protect large cities and strategic objects within the state. But at the same time, they are not in one place and move in different directions.
As for the record-breaking "air raid" of the Russians, the spokesperson of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces emphasized that it made it possible to push the enemy's planes away from the front line and reduce the intensity of the use of aerial bombs.
"For three days, the DRLV planes have not been seen performing tasks at all," Ignat emphasized.
According to the Defense Express profile publication, as of the beginning of 2022, the Russian Federation had about 100 Su-34 bombers and about 9 A-50 anti-aircraft defense aircraft.
