The war in Ukraine continues unabated, with the Russians scoring local victories that have so far failed to create significant breaches in the Ukrainian defense lines, causing the front to collapse.
Many reasons have led to these Russian successes, one of them being the provision of close air protection to the Russian military by its friendly air force. However, this results, despite the serious shortcomings of the Ukrainian air defense – mainly due to the near exhaustion of its stock of anti-aircraft missiles – the downing of a significant number of Russian fighter jets.
“Like flies” the Ukrainian air defense shoots down the Russian SU-34s
Ukrainian Air Force shot down another Russian Su-34- Currently no enemy aircraft is seen near the front line while in the last few days, about a dozen enemy planes have already been shot down. 10 of them are Su-34 fighter-bombers.
On Saturday, March 2, thanks to the capability of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the enemy suffered another loss in tactical aviation – another Su-34 attack aircraft was destroyed. This plane was shot down in the eastern sector.
At the same time, this was reported on the Internet, after the Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Mykola Oleschuk reported at 5:08 p.m. on the use of surface-to-air missiles against two enemy aircraft – the Su-34 fighter-bomber and the Su-35 multi-role fighter. And in a little less than two hours, he announced that the Air Force of Ukraine managed to shoot down one of these planes – the Su-34.
Also, the Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine added an image from the air situational information system and noted that as of 7:00 p.m. the “sky is clear” over and around the eastern part of Ukraine, meaning no enemy aircraft are observed.
“Massacre” of the Russian Air Force by the Ukrainians
So, in total, in the last two weeks, 15 Russian aircraft have already been shot down, including an airborne early warning and control aircraft A-50U (NATO reference name: Mainstay), two Su-35 multi-role fighters (NATO reference name: Flanker-E ) and twelve Su-34 fighter-bombers (NATO reference name: Fullback). The general statistics per day are as follows:
- March 2: Su-34
- March 1: Su-34
- February 29: 3xSu-34
- February 27: 2xSu-34
- February 23: A-50U
- February 21: Su-34
- February 19: Su-34, Su-35
- February 18: Su-34
- February 17: 2xSu-34, Su-35
It should be noted that 12 Su-34 front-line bombers make up about 10% of their number in the so-called “Russian Aerospace Forces” as of 2021. Also, although the Russians produce these planes, their losses during the war Russia-Ukraine is much higher than the rate of production.
The Russian air force is problematic in practice against the air power of NATO
The above proves the enormous air superiority of NATO over Russia, since the weak and missile-depleted Ukrainian air defense, with a non-existent air force, managed only in the last two (2) weeks to shoot down 14 Russian fighters and 1 early warning aircraft.
Is there any comparison after this between the Russian Air Force, with the colossal air power of NATO? Probably not.
