Air War over Ukraine
Death of Rare Birds
Text: Miro Barič
In today’s installment of the series, we look at the period from 1 November 2025 to 30 November 2025. During an attack on the Beriev plant in Taganrog, Russia lost two unique test aircraft in the monitored month: the Beriev A-60 and the Beriev A-100LL.
On the ground front, Russian pressure continued at several locations. The most critical situations were around Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad in Donetsk Oblast, Huliaipole in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, and Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast. In the case of the latter, on Thursday, 20 November, Russian General Sergey Kuzovlev even announced in a live television broadcast to Putin that the city had been completely captured—allegedly as early as 4 November—and received a decoration for it. However, this was not true. Only small Russian units (estimated at around 200 soldiers) had infiltrated Kupiansk, and Ukrainian forces recaptured most of the city. When this deception came to light, General Kuzovlev disappeared and was later found dead.
In the other mentioned cities, however, the situation was far worse for Ukrainian defenders. The reason was not only Russian pressure, which relied primarily on infiltration by small groups and disruption of the Ukrainian rear. Frontline positions were patched together by various units with poor coordination. When the enemy bypassed them on the flanks, withdrawal orders often did not arrive in time, and some units were lost as a result. Ultimate responsibility for this long-unresolved situation lies with the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi.
On the very first day of the monitored period, Saturday, 1st of November, Ukrainian military intelligence special forces (GUR) attempted to reverse the unfavorable situation in Pokrovsk. During the operation, GUR chief Kyrylo Budanov was reportedly personally present in the city. From the perspective of the air war, it is particularly noteworthy that the operation included a helicopter deployment. GUR operates several UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, including one purchased by donations from the Czech Republic and named Čestmír. It is unclear how many helicopters were used; drone reconnaissance footage captured only one. The mission of the special forces was to penetrate and clear supply routes within the city that had been infiltrated by Russian troops. The course and outcome of the operation remain unknown. Russia claims that all Ukrainian soldiers were killed shortly after disembarking from the helicopter, which Ukraine denies. While the mission was close to suicidal, the Ukrainians likely achieved some success, as the situation improved—albeit only temporarily.
In this context, it is also notable that a few days later Czech pro-Russian disinformation actors began spreading claims that the Čestmír helicopter took part in the Pokrovsk operation and was shot down with all personnel on board. However, even the Russian side made no such claim—and Kremlin propaganda would certainly have exploited the downing of a Black Hawk. Russian statements only claimed that Ukrainian special forces were eliminated after landing during ground combat. No mention was made of a helicopter being destroyed. Moreover, the helicopter seen in the video shows different paint details and was likely not Čestmír at all.
Infiltration of the Ukrainian special forces from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter near Pokrovsk.
Russian Losses
As far as aviation losses are concerned, November was a successful month for Ukraine. It suffered no known losses, while the Russian Air Force lost several aircraft. On Thursday, 13 November, a Sukhoi Su-30SM2 fighter was destroyed. This loss was not directly related to combat in Ukraine, although years of war undoubtedly take a toll on aircraft condition and crew fatigue. The aircraft crashed at Besovets Air Base in Karelia, near the Finnish border, just a few hundred meters from the runway. Both pilots were killed. One was identified as Lieutenant Colonel Kirill Kartsev.
Other Russian losses were directly caused by Ukraine. On Friday, 21 November, Ukrainian military intelligence GUR released video footage of a drone attack on a Kamov Ka-27 helicopter at Prymorskyi Air Base in Crimea. The attack itself had occurred earlier, likely at the beginning of the month. Only drone footage was released; the aftermath was not documented by other means, such as satellite imagery.
By contrast, the attack on Tuesday, 25 November, is very well documented by both ground footage and satellite images. Ukrainian drones struck Taganrog-South Airfield on the coast of the Sea of Azov in Russia’s Rostov Oblast. This site is the G. M. Beriev Taganrog Aviation Scientific-Technical Complex, in other words, the Beriev factory. Satellite imagery revealed multiple hits on the assembly hall (holes in the roof) and two aircraft destroyed on the apron: a Beriev A-60 and a Beriev A-100LL. In both cases, these were experimental test aircraft based on the Ilyushin Il-76 transport platform.
The A-60 originated in the late 1970s and early 1980s and was used to test laser weapons. Two examples were built; the aircraft destroyed in Taganrog carried the registration RA-86879. Its explosion was also captured on video. Officially, this A-60 was retired in 2016, but in 2020 reports emerged of new laser weapon development and testing, accompanied by fresh flight footage of the aircraft. In July 2021, however, it was definitively grounded at the location where it was now destroyed.
Just a few meters away stood the A-100LL, registration RF-93953, tail number “Red 52,” which had been parked since December 2023. The “LL” designation stands for Flying Laboratory. This aircraft was intended to test electronic systems for the successor to the A-50 airborne early warning and control aircraft. A true A-100 prototype was later built, after which the A-100LL was parked, although it is likely that ground tests continued.
In both cases, these were unique aircraft that had largely already fulfilled their purpose and had been parked long-term. Their destruction therefore made sense primarily for propaganda purposes, boosting the prestige of Ukrainian drone units. From a military standpoint, the significance was limited. It is likely that the main target was the Beriev production hall, and the aircraft were destroyed simply because they had not moved for a long time. Their fixed coordinates allowed long-range drones to be dispatched with confidence that the targets would not relocate. In such deep strikes inside Russian territory, Ukrainians cannot remotely control drones and instead send them to pre-programmed coordinates.
Beriev A-100LL, photographed years ago on a Russian spotters’ website by a user named bonsai.
Footage from a Ukrainian FPV drone during an attack on a Ka-27 helicopter in Crimea.
Video still of the Beriev A-60 aircraft explosion.
Satellite image of Taganrog-South Airfield from 2024. The Beriev A-60 (left inset) and Beriev A-100LL (right inset) were already parked at that time.
Satellite image showing the destroyed aircraft after an attack.
Attack on Ternopil
Russia continued its systematic attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Among the many air raids that occurred almost every night, one stood out—the attack carried out in the early Wednesday morning, 19th of November. Russia launched 476 drones and 48 cruise missiles, primarily targeting western Ukraine. The strike involved six Tu-95MS and four Tu-160MS bombers, which launched Kh-101 missiles. Ukrainian air defenses destroyed 442 drones and 41 missiles.
It was these Kh-101 missiles from Russian strategic bombers that penetrated the city of Ternopil. In the final phase of flight, they deployed infrared decoys to reduce interception chances. Industrial facilities and energy infrastructure were hit, but two nine-story apartment buildings also suffered direct hits and were largely destroyed. Thirty-eight people were killed, including seven children, and more than one hundred were injured. This was one of the deadliest Russian air attacks since the start of the war.
Meanwhile, Russian propaganda repeatedly claims that it strikes only military targets with surgical precision and causes no harm to civilians. The Kremlin clearly has a good teacher in the fight against “Nazism.” Who was it that said a lie repeated a hundred times becomes the truth? Was it the Nazi Goebbels?
A Russian Kh-101 missile attack on apartment buildings in Ternopil killed 38 civilians, including seven children.
Tanker Explosions
On the Ukrainian side, a new type of attack appeared during the monitored period: naval drones targeting tankers of Russia’s shadow fleet. These vessels are scattered worldwide, often in questionable technical condition, and are used by Moscow to export oil under international sanctions. As a result, they cannot be insured or serviced in ports.
In the Black Sea, on Saturday, 29 November, naval drones Sea Baby struck two tankers, Kairos and Virat. Both were empty and heading to Novorossiysk to load oil. Both ships were hit in the stern, where their engines and fuel tanks are located. Fires broke out on both vessels but were later extinguished, and the damaged tankers remained afloat.
Another attack occurred in an unexpected location: the tanker Mersin was hit by four “external explosions” while anchored off the coast of Senegal in West Africa. As a result of the naval drone attack, the engine room was flooded.
Ukrainian naval drones attacking Russian tankers in the Black Sea.
Damaged tanker the day after the fire was extinguished.
Ex-Slovak MiGs in Action
Several new images appeared during the monitored period showing ex-Slovak MiG-29AS fighters, which Ukraine received in spring 2023. They are thus still operational more than two and a half years later. Two photographs of two different aircraft were released, both equipped with pylons for guided bombs. One aircraft appears capable of carrying GBU-39 SDB (Small Diameter Bomb) munitions, while the other has pylons for GBU-39 JDAM-ER (Joint Direct Attack Munition – Extended Range). The former Slovak aircraft have thus gained capabilities in Ukrainian service that they never had at home, as Slovak Air Force MiG-29AS fighters were not equipped for precision ground attack.
At the same time, cockpit video footage was released showing an ex-Slovak MiG-29AS in action. The aircraft was flying a mission in the frontline area (likely a bombing mission) when it was targeted by Russian air-defense missiles. The pilot was forced to evade through a series of violent maneuvers at very low altitude. That it was a former Slovak aircraft was confirmed by the BAE Systems AN/APX-113(V) IFF antennas, visible in front of the windscreen on the upper fuselage. Slovak MiG-29AS fighters received these during modernization in 2005–2006.
New images of the ex-Slovak MiG-29AS fighters. The characteristic antenna behind the cockpit, overpainted original markings, and heavily worn paint can be noticed.
A cockpit video still of a wildly maneuvering ex-Slovak MiG.
Ground Equipment for Mirage 2000
Ukraine is also preparing for the future strengthening of its air force. Some time ago, the Ukrainian Air Force received mobile mission-planning complexes for its F-16 fighters, which constantly relocate between bases to avoid detection by Russian missiles. Not all airfields, however, are adequately equipped for Western fighters, so necessary equipment is transported by truck.
After the F-16s, the Ukrainian Air Force has now received similar mobile ground support complexes for Mirage 2000-5F aircraft delivered from France. In addition, it has acquired mobile meteorological stations, further improving mission planning and preparation.
In France, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and French President Emmanuel Macron signed a framework agreement on new air-defense systems and Rafale fighter jets on Monday, 17 November. At least regarding the fighters, this is similar to the agreement Zelenskyy signed a month earlier in Sweden on Gripen fighters—that is, an agreement on possible future deliveries. Should such purchases actually take place, they would form part of the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine’s air force. First, however, a sustainable peace must be achieved—not a Ukrainian capitulation along the lines of the November U.S. proposal, which, according to all available information, was dictated from the Kremlin.
Ukrainian Mirage 2000-5F fighters received the mobile ground support equipment and meteorological stations.
This Ukrainian drone failed to reach its target. Footage of its wreckage was published by Russian media.
A series of images of the Ukrainian MiG-29 fighters which belong to the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade.