Air War in Ukraine
Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters at forward bases.
Black Month for Ukrainian Air Force and Air Defense
Text: Miro Barič
After capturing Avdiivka last month, the Russian advance significantly slowed down from March 1 to March 31. Following heavy losses, they had to rebuild the offensive potential of their units. However, they resumed their pressure at the end of March. The Kremlin was in a hurry to take advantage of the time before Ukraine received the expected assistance.
During this period, the blocking of American military aid for Ukraine by Republican congressmen continued. Europe also significantly delayed its deliveries, and promises could not stop Russian tanks and aircraft. A bright spot was the Czech initiative to purchase artillery ammunition from countries outside Europe. Around 20 countries joined this initiative, providing funds for ammunition purchases. However, it will take some time to deliver the ammunition to the front.
During this period, Ukrainian troops not only lacked artillery and mortar shells but also began to run out of missiles for air defense systems and other ammunition. This factor contributed to Russians inflicting higher losses on Ukrainian equipment than before. Russian reconnaissance drones operate deep in Ukrainian territory practically without resistance, identifying targets that are then engaged by artillery, missiles, or attack drones.
During this period, Russians achieved their first confirmed destruction of an HIMARS rocket launcher. Lancet drones also destroyed the second wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2 out of approximately ten pieces that Slovakia had delivered so far. However, the most serious loss was part of a Patriot air defense battery. Ongoing Russian glide bomb attacks forced Ukrainians to risk moving their air defense systems closer to the front line. The risk did not pay off, and on Saturday, March 9, a video surfaced showing a Russian attack on a Patriot battery convoy. The convoy had stopped during transit, and its commander was awaiting further orders. Before orders arrived, Russian drones spotted the convoy and guided an Iskander ballistic missile towards it. Ukrainian armed forces did not comment on this attack or the extent of the damage, but it appears that two or three launching devices and one technical support vehicle, likely a power generator, were destroyed. According to unofficial sources, crews of destroyed vehicles lost their lives.
Ukrainian Losses
The Ukrainian Air Force also suffered significant losses during this period. On Friday, March 8, a MiG-29 was shot down near the village of Shevchenko in the Pokrovsk district of the Donetsk region. The Ukrainian aircraft was hit by an R-77 missile from a patrolling Russian Su-35S fighter. The MiG-29 caught fire after being hit and fell almost vertically to the ground. The pilot failed to eject. Lieutenant Colonel Andriy Tkachenko of the 114th Tactical Aviation Brigade was killed.
On Tuesday, March 12, Russians managed to intercept three Ukrainian helicopters from the 12th Independent Army Aviation Brigade at a forward base near Novopavlivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region. They attacked with cluster munitions. Two Mi-17V-5 helicopters were destroyed, while the third Mi-8MT escaped. Two Ukrainian pilots, Captain Yaroslav Kava and Captain Andriy Bakun, lost their lives.
In the Kherson region in southern Ukraine on Sunday, March 17, another Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter was shot down by portable rockets. The burning aircraft continued flying low above the ground, and two crew members jumped out, surviving with injuries. The pilot who enabled them to jump, however, did not survive. He was Vitaliy Plekha from the 16th Independent Army Aviation Brigade.
On the opposite side of the battlefield, near Lukashivka in the Sumy region in northern Ukraine, near the border with Russia, a Mi-24 helicopter was shot down on the same day, March 17. Russian soldiers managed to hit it with a portable missile, reportedly a 9K333 Verba. At least one crew member did not survive the subsequent crash. This incident was related to helicopter operations and its loss, tied to the activities of Russian volunteer units fighting on Ukraine's side. They comprise a diverse mix of individuals with various motives – from Russian right-wing extremists to minority members seeking independence from Russia. In the past, they have made several forays into Russian border villages, but always quickly withdrew back into Ukrainian territory. This time was different. Russian legions, supported by tanks, occupied at least two villages and fought on Russian territory for a whole week. One of these villages on Russian soil, Kozinka in the Belgorod region, was completely destroyed by bombing and artillery. This was intended to prevent Russian volunteers fighting on Ukraine's side from establishing a permanent presence there.
Debris of a Ukrainian Mi-24 helicopter shot down on March 17 near Lukashivka in the Sumy region.
Ukrainian MiG-29 shot down on March 8 near the village of Shevchenko in the Donetsk region.
Series of shots documenting a Russian attack on three Ukrainian helicopters at a forward base near Novopavlivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region, where two aircraft were destroyed on March 12.
Russian drone Lancet hit a Ukrainian L-39 Albatros at Kulbakino base in the Mykolaiv region on March 20.
Crash of a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter in the Kherson region on March 17. Two crew members managed to bail out, but the aircraft commander perished.
Illustrative photograph of Ukrainian Mi-17 helicopters.
Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters at forward bases.
Ukrainian Mi-24P helicopter under the care of ground personnel and its pilot in action.
Originally Czech Mi-24 helicopter in Ukrainian service.
Slovak Mi-17 helicopter in Ukraine. Originally numbered 0847.
Second Black Hawk
During these operations on Russian soil, Ukrainian military intelligence (GUR) used two Black Hawk helicopters. It was previously known that only one was in Ukrainian service. The first helicopter is a former U.S. Army UH-60A, originally serial number 80-23439, which received civilian designation N60FW after being retired from military service. The machine underwent a general overhaul and modernization by Ace Aeronautics from Alabama. The helicopter retained its civilian blue and black coloring, which made it identifiable. The second Black Hawk has an overall green color, Ukrainian national symbols on the sides, and white identification stripes on the tail. It bears the emblem of military intelligence aviation and the number 0420 on the nose. The Ukrainians likely obtained it from one of the private companies in the West.
The last known loss during this period was a strike on a training L-39 Albatros aircraft at Kulbakino base in the Mykolaiv region. It was destroyed there by a Russian Lancet drone, and the video was released on Wednesday, March 20. It is unknown whether it was an airworthy aircraft or a decoy. Albatros was covered by a protective netting at the base, suggesting it could have been an operational aircraft. However, such netting increases the realism of a decoy.
Ukrainian military intelligence now operates two Black Hawk helicopters.
Russian Losses
During the observed period, the Russian Air Force lost one Su-27 fighter jet, which crashed into the Black Sea near the port of Sevastopol in occupied Crimea on Thursday, March 28. The burning aircraft spiraled down, and although the circumstances of its loss are unknown, it likely fell victim to its own air defense. The pilot ejected and survived.
Not directly related to the war in Ukraine was the loss of an Il-76 transport plane on Tuesday, March 12, near Ivanovo Severny Air Base, approximately 250 km northeast of Moscow. An engine fire broke out during the flight, and the engine later detached completely. The pilots attempted to reach the airport, but the aircraft crashed into the forest. All 16 people on board perished – eight crew members and eight passengers, who were members of another crew from the 117th Military Transport Aviation Regiment.
In Transnistria, a breakaway region of Moldova, the Russian army lost a Mi-8 helicopter marked with "yellow 04" on Sunday, March 17. However, this incident was the result of Russian provocation. Kremlin propaganda released a video claiming the helicopter exploded after being hit by an enemy drone. In reality, the helicopter had long been decommissioned and had been stationary for years. It was destroyed by an explosive device placed on board, and the drone footage was poorly edited.
Russian Su-27 fighter crashed into the Black Sea near Sevastopol port in occupied Crimea on March 28.
Two crews perished in the crash of an Il-76 near Ivanovo Severnyj base in Russia on March 12.
Mi-8 helicopter "yellow 04" in a photo from the Transnistrian Ministry of Defense during its operational service.
Mi-8 helicopter "yellow 04" after being destroyed. It was a Russian provocation; the helicopter had been parked in one place for years.
Ships at the Bottom
Further losses were suffered by the Russian Black Sea Fleet. On Tuesday, March 5, the patrol ship Sergei Kotov from the Project 22160 class fell victim to a concentrated attack by a swarm of Ukrainian drones. This was a new ship that entered service only in July 2022. It was 94 meters long with a displacement of 1,700 tons. Onboard, it carried a 76mm caliber gun and machine guns. It could also carry Kalibr missile containers. Near Feodosia in Crimea, it was struck by multiple drones and sank. Along with it, a Kamov-type helicopter (Ka-27 or Ka-29), standard equipment for ships of this class, likely also went down.
The crew of the Sergei Kotov defended themselves with automatic weapons, but to no avail. BBC interviewed the commander of the Ukrainian intelligence unit that controls drone operations, responsible for the sinking of five Russian ships. Russian sailors use tracer ammunition to aim better at night. However, this also aids drone operators in evasive maneuvers because they can see where the Russians are shooting. Magura V5 drones have a range of 800 km and carry 250 kg of explosives. Their flat shape does not protrude high above the water. Made of plastic, they are harder to detect by radar and emit little heat, making them undetectable by thermal cameras. Operating at a speed of 80 km/h and measuring only six meters long, their presence at night is difficult to detect. During a single attack, multiple drones coordinate, increasing the likelihood of hitting targets. The entire operation lasts several days as drones cover distances of hundreds of kilometers. Operators must maintain control throughout. Consequently, operators are exhausted after the operation and require breaks for rest.
The ship „Sergei Kotov“ became a target of the Ukrainian naval drones on March 5. The helicopter carried on her deck likely sank with it.
On Sunday, March 24, the Ukrainian Air Force conducted a massive Storm Shadow / Scalp-EG cruise missile attack on occupied Crimea. The communication center of the Russian Black Sea Fleet was destroyed. Three ships in Sevastopol harbor were damaged. The landing ship Jamal listed heavily after being hit and was towed into dry dock. The second landing ship Azov was likely only slightly damaged after a missile missed and exploded on the pier next to it. The spy ship Ivan Churs narrowly avoided one hit as a missile struck the pier behind it, creating a large hole in the deck. Satellite imagery reveals these observations, but the full extent of the damage is unknown. Belbek Airport was also targeted, with Ukrainian sources claiming three Su-27 fighters were hit. One was destroyed, and two were damaged. However, this claim could not be verified.
In addition to Scalp-EG missiles, Ukrainians also use another French weapon. In January, French President Emmanuel Macron promised hundreds of AASM HAMMER guided bombs to Ukraine. They were first used in early February, and in March, footage of MiG-29 fighters with these weapons emerged.
AASM stands for Armement Air-Sol Modulaire, meaning Modular Air-to-Ground Weapon. The significance of the second abbreviation, HAMMER, is Highly Agile Modular Munition Extended Range. It is a kit that transforms ordinary unguided bombs into highly precise weapons. A guidance module is attached to the bomb's nose, and a rocket motor is attached to the rear. The basic kit is intended for 250 kg bombs, with a range of over 70 km after release. Ukrainian MiG-29 fighters carry them on special racks previously used for similar weapons like JDAM ER.
Destroying the Infrastructure
In addition to military targets on the front, Russia also attacked civilian infrastructure in the hinterland during the observed period. On Thursday, March 21, Kyiv and Kharkiv were targeted by 29 cruise missiles and two Kinzhal and Iskander-M missiles. Ukrainian defenses intercepted all missiles, but falling debris caused damage, resulting in five deaths in Kharkiv.
This attack was likely a test to ascertain the current positions of Ukrainian air defenses. On Friday, March 22, a much larger attack occurred, the largest since the war began. One hundred fifty-one missiles and drones targeted critical Ukrainian infrastructure, with defenses intercepting only 92 – mostly drones and cruise missiles. Russia deployed 12 Iskander-M missiles, seven Kinzhal missiles, five Kh-22 missiles, and 22 S-300 missiles in ballistic mode. All 46 missiles hit their targets, partly because they avoided areas covered by Patriot systems. For example, the largest Ukrainian hydroelectric power plant on the Dnieper River in Zaporizhia was hit by ten missiles, destroying the plant, which will take years to repair.
On Saturday, March 23, Russians took a minor break, sending only about 30 Shahed drones, most of which were shot down. On Sunday, March 24, they launched nearly 60 missiles and drones. One missile penetrated the Polish airspace, spending 39 seconds there before turning back. This has happened several times in the past. Russia likely aims to use Polish airspace to attack the Lviv area from an unexpected direction. Consequently, the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Russian ambassador, who declined to appear.
Night battle of the Ukrainian 126th Territorial Defense Brigade against drones.
Ukrainian police securing debris from a downed Shahed drone.
Russian missiles on March 22 destroyed the largest Ukrainian hydroelectric power plant on the Dnipro River in Zaporizhia.
Ukrainians use these mock ups as decoys.