In February, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported the downing of 13 Russian aircraft, marking the most substantial monthly loss for Russia since October 2022. The aircraft downed include 10 Su-34 fighter jets, two Su-35 fighter jets, and one A-50 early warning and control aircraft. This includes a specific incident where a Su-34 fighter bomber was shot down, with the ministry not providing detailed information on the location or method of engagement.
February is the shortest month of the year, but our sky defenders have achieved the greatest results in downing russian jets since October 2022.
The Ukrainian Air Force destroyed:
◾️ten Su-34 fighter-bombers
◾️two Su-35 fighters
◾️one A-50 long-range radar detection and control… pic.twitter.com/jZ302fRxHF— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) February 29, 2024
The Su-34 and Su-35 are among the more advanced models in Russia’s military aviation fleet, with each Su-34 estimated to cost around $36 million. The downing of an A-50, which is estimated to cost around $330 million, was also noted as significant due to its role in early warning and control.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces attributed their success in February to the efficiency of their soldiers and the enhanced capabilities of their air defense systems, supported by international partners. On one occasion, three Su-34 jets were downed in a single day, stated by Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat. .
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine has reported downing a total of 345 Russian planes, according to the General Staff. The effectiveness of Ukraine’s air defenses has been linked to a variety of systems, including American-made Patriot systems and other Western-supplied equipment.
It should be noted that the figures and events reported by Ukraine have not been independently verified, with skepticism circulating online due to the lack of hard evidence.
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