Air War in Ukraine - Black Month for Ukrainian Air Force and Air Defense
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.
Miro Barič
Air War in Ukraine
Black Month for Ukrainian Air Force and Air Defense
Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters at forward bases.
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
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.
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May 2024