Strana 31
September 2025
On September 7, Russia set another “record,”
launching 818 drones and other projectiles at
Ukraine. The most significant event occurred
on September 10, when about two dozen
Russian drones strayed into Poland—likely to
test NATO’s defensive response.
It was otherwise a black month for Russian
aviation, which lost 8 to 11 aircraft and
helicopters.
October 2025
This month confirmed the importance of F-16
fighters. While MiG-29s and Su-27s continued
to operate, F-16s carried out 80% of Ukrainian
Air Force combat missions.
Russia lost six aircraft and helicopters,
including cases of friendly fire where
air defenses mistook Russian aircraft for
Ukrainian drones.
November 2025
Ukraine conducted several successful drone
attacks on Russian airfields. Notably, a strike
on the Beriev plant in Taganrog damaged
a production hall and two experimental aircraft
(A-60 and A-100LL).
Russia, in turn, struck Ternopil, hitting
residential buildings and killing 38 people,
including seven children. Kh-101 cruise
missiles launched from Tu-95MS and Tu-160
bombers were used.
December 2025
Another black month for Russian aviation,
losing at least 10 aircraft and suffering
personnel losses. Most were destroyed in
drone attacks on airfields. A naval Il-38N
patrol aircraft was also hit at the Yeysk base,
enabling a naval drone attack on a submarine
in Novorossiysk.
Ukraine also suffered losses: two aircraft
destroyed on the ground and two in the air
(Su-27 and Mi-24), with five crew members
killed.
January 2026
This month was marked by severe frost.
Russia intensified attacks on Ukraine’s
energy system. Attempts to retaliate against
Ukrainian drone strikes on airfields had mixed
results. Reported hits on two Su-27s involved
decommissioned aircraft, and a struck F-16
was likely a decoy.
February 2026
During the observed period from February
1 to February 28, 2026, the Ukrainian side
suffered only one loss. This occurred on
Monday, February 9, when a Mi-24 helicopter
from the 11th Independent Army Aviation
Brigade failed to return from a combat mission.
Sadly, its crew was killed.
The Russians lost a Ka-27 naval helicopter,
which was destroyed in a Ukrainian drone
strike in Crimea. Footage of the attack was
released by the General Staff of the Armed
Forces of Ukraine on Tuesday, February 17.
The strike therefore took place either on that
day or shortly before.
The same source—the Ukrainian General
Staff—released additional footage on Saturday,
February 21, showing a successful drone
strike on a Beriev Be-12 amphibious aircraft at
an aircraft repair facility in Yevpatoria, Crimea.
According to the website The Military Watch,
it was a decommissioned aircraft with the tail
number “yellow 30” and serial number 9601502,
which had been parked at the same location for
over 20 years. A photograph of its wreck was
later published by the Russian channel Dossier
Spy.
Interestingly, the same Russian channel also
released footage showing a hit and heavily
damaged hangar, inside which a Mi-8 helicopter
was damaged. This confirmed greater damage
than what had been reported by the Ukrainians.
The Russian channel Dossier Spy published an image
of the destroyed Be-12. It was a long-retired aircraft.
At the same time, Dossier Spy also published images of a damaged hangar and a Mi-8 helicopter inside.
UKRAINE
INFO Eduard
31
April 2026