Aerial War in Ukraine
Note the weathering on this Ukrainian MiG-29.
Russian Airports Under Fire
Text: Miro Barič
During the monitored period from May 1 to May 31, the Russians attempted to open a new front in the Kharkiv area. It ended as it always does. Meanwhile, Ukraine intensified its campaign against Russian airports. The targets included air defense systems, radars, and bomb and fuel depots. It seems they are preparing the ground for the anticipated deployment of F-16 fighters.
The offensive against the Kharkiv region began on Friday, May 10. The Russians gathered around 50,000 soldiers for it. The Ukrainians saw this buildup of forces at their borders but had limited options to counter them because the West only allowed the use of their weapons under the condition they are deployed within the Ukrainian territory.
At first, the Russians advanced quickly, causing alarmed comments in the Western press and criticism of why Ukraine had not fortified this area. Well, try building fortifications right at the border under the watch of Russian artillery... In reality, the first Ukrainian line was about 10 km from the border, and the Russians never crossed it. The border zone was a kind of gray area patrolled only by small units.
The Russian advance focused on the town of Vovchansk northeast of Kharkiv and the village of Lypci, located a bit further west. The plan was to create two pincers aimed ultimately at Kharkiv – or at least to divert Ukrainian units from other areas of the front. None of this succeeded. In other sectors, the Russian advance did not speed up, and even in the Kharkiv region, they only managed to occupy a few abandoned villages at great cost. By the end of the monitored period, the Ukrainians even started pushing the Russians back.
Western Missile against Russia?
This Kharkiv adventure did have one significant consequence, although not the one the Russians envisioned. Most Western countries lifted restrictions that prohibited Ukrainians from using their weapons against Russian territory. The result was, for instance, the destruction of an S-300 battery in the Belgorod region. The S-300 missiles, in a ground-to-ground configuration, were previously used by the Russians to shell Kharkiv and kill its residents.
At first glance, this sounds overly optimistic. However, details gradually emerged, revealing that the USA only slightly relaxed its restrictions. Ukrainians can only use standard GMLRS missiles from HIMARS rocket launchers, with a range of about 80 km, against Russian territory. They cannot attack Russia with ATACMS missiles, which have a range of 300 km. Thus, critical command posts of the Russian army remain out of Ukrainian reach. The areas Ukraine can shell are also limited, and they must carefully select their targets. They can only strike those units actively attacking Ukrainian territory from Russian soil. Therefore, Ukraine continues to fight mainly with domestically produced drones on Russian territory, while Western missiles are used against occupied territories, focusing particularly on Crimea.
Attacks on Airports
On Saturday, April 27, drones struck the Kuschevskaya airbase in Russia's Krasnodar region. One Flanker (Su-27 or Su-35) was damaged, and one unidentified aircraft was destroyed. Much more significant, however, was the hit on a warehouse containing kits for the wing-mounted guided glide bombs, which was completely destroyed. The Russian air force had been using these bombs to attack Ukrainian frontline positions for several months, so their destruction is a welcome aid to the defenders in the trenches.
On Tuesday, April 30, 12 ATACMS missiles hit targets around the Dzhankoi and Gvardeiskoe airbases in occupied Crimea.
Belbek airport in Crimea suffered massive damage on Wednesday, May 15, after being hit by ATACMS missiles. Two MiG-31 fighters and one unidentified aircraft were completely destroyed. One Su-27 was damaged, and another three Su-27s were likely damaged. One MiG-29 was also destroyed. This MiG-29 was one of the nine originally Ukrainian fighters captured by the Russians at Belbek airbase during the 2014 occupation of Crimea and had remained in a non-operational state since. Additionally, a fuel depot was completely burned down, which is a significant blow to the Russian air force's ability to operate from Belbek. Without the necessary infrastructure, it's just a concrete runway without the capability to quickly prepare aircraft for combat missions. The final blow was the destruction of an S-400 air defense battery, with photos of the battery appearing on social media. The aircraft hits were confirmed by satellite images.
On Sunday, May 19, the Kushchevskaya airbase was again targeted by Ukrainian drones. One Flanker (Su-27 or Su-35) was destroyed. This aircraft originally belonged to the Russian Knights aerobatic team, identifiable by its distinctive white-blue-red coloring. One Su-34 was also damaged. The damaged aircraft can also be seen in satellite images. After the attack, most of the Russian aircraft left this base.
On Wednesday, May 22, five ATACMS missiles hit an S-400 air defense battery at Mospino airport in the Donetsk region. The radar, control center, and two launchers were destroyed, while one launcher was damaged.
S-400 system destroyed on May 15 at the Belbek airport in Crimea.
A Maxar satellite captured the wreckage of two MiG-31 fighters the day after the attack on Belbek airport.
A pair of MiG-31 fighters in an image released by the Russian Ministry of Defense.
A fuel depot at the Belbek base, in a satellite image from Maxar, shown before and after the attack.
A destroyed non-airworthy ex-Ukrainian MiG-29 at Belbek airport.
A destroyed warehouse containing kits for glide bombs at the Kuščevskaja base.
A Flanker in the colors of the Russkiye Vityazi aerobatic team was destroyed on May 19 at the Kuščevskaja base. The upper photo was taken by Planet Labs on May 5, and the lower one was taken on May 23.
Destroyed in the Air
In total, the Russian air force lost six aircraft on the ground and five more were damaged during the month. Only one aircraft was lost in the air, but it was a significant loss. A Su-34 with the designation RF-95002 and fuselage number "red 21" was destroyed during a combat flight on Monday, May 6, near the town of Valuyki in the Belgorod region. It belonged to the 47th Bomber Aviation Regiment of the 105th Mixed Aviation Division. Its crew, Yevgeny Kuznetsov and Vladimir Strelkov, did not have time to eject and both pilots died. According to Russian sources, they were among the most experienced pilots. The aircraft had also completed a number of combat missions, symbolized by the red stars below the cockpit, with the first ones added in Syria.
Additionally, Ukraine reported shooting down seven Su-25 attack aircraft and one Ka-52 helicopter during the monitored month, but these losses have not yet been confirmed. In one case, however, there is a blurry video purportedly capturing the strike on a Russian Su-25.
A Su-34 marked RF-95002 and fuselage number "red 21" was destroyed on May 6. Combat mission symbols are visible under the cockpit.
Fuel in the Gunsight
In addition to airport attacks, Ukraine continued targeting refineries, strategic enterprises, and other significant sites. On Friday, May 10, an ATACMS missile completely destroyed the largest fuel depot in the entire Luhansk region.
A major attack occurred on the night of May 11-12, when Ukrainian military intelligence (GRU) drones repeatedly hit a refinery in Volgograd, approximately 475 km from the front line. Simultaneously, steelworks in Novolipetsk and another refinery in Kaluga were attacked. The next day, a Storm Shadow missile struck a large radar complex in Crimea.
On Friday, May 17, a concentrated attack targeted a refinery in Tuapse in southern Russia. Ukrainians exploited gaps in Russian air defense, sending a total of 80 drones in a column. This same refinery had been seriously damaged by drones back in January, with repairs lasting until April.
On the morning of Thursday, May 23, a Russian Voronezh-DM radar station in the Krasnodar region, used for over-the-horizon early detection, was hit by drones. This occurred 430 km from the front line. The radar's stated range was up to 6,000 km.
In Luhansk, on Monday, May 27, an old, long-unused airfield, now serving the Russians for importing and storing supplies, was targeted by ATACMS missiles. Based on the massive fire that broke out on the runway, a fuel depot was destroyed.
Bombing Their Own
The Russians also shelled their own territory, albeit unintentionally. On Sunday, May 4, a glide bomb intended for Kharkiv fell on Belgorod, damaging around 30 houses and resulting in civilian casualties.
In three months, the Russian air force dropped 46 FAB-250 and FAB-500 bombs on its own territory. On May 18, eight of these bombs fell in the Belgorod region alone. These reports come from Russian media that support the attack on Ukraine. Then, on May 20, four glide bombs fell on Shebekino, which is on the Russian side of the border opposite Ukrainian Vovchansk. It is fortunate for Russian civilians that most of these bombs did not explode, likely because they were not armed during faulty or emergency drops.
A controversial incident occurred in Belgorod on Sunday, May 12, when a multi-family building in a residential area was hit. Part of the building collapsed immediately, and the rest fell on the rescuers searching for victims in the rubble. At least 15 people died and 20 were injured. It is unclear what hit the building. Various Russian sources mentioned an ATACMS missile, Tochka-U, Vilkha, or a guided Hammer bomb. It was also speculated tha the Czech Vampire rocket launcher was used. Some Russian sources admitted that the building was not intentionally targeted, claiming a downed missile had hit it. The building was not struck from the Ukrainian side, as windows on the adjacent entrance remained intact. The explosion occurred on the side facing Russian territory, where neighboring windows were shattered. Most likely, the building was hit by a Russian air defense missile. It should be noted that conspiracy theories emerged suggesting the building was blown up by the Russian secret service. Similar suspicious explosions preceded Putin's first term in office in 2000. He was "re-elected" again recently. The practical outcome of his fifth term is a change in the position of defense minister. Sergei Shoigu was replaced by Andrei Belousov.
A Russian bomb that fell on a house in the Belgorod region of Russia.
An apartment building destroyed in Belgorod on May 12.
The Voronezh-DM radar station hit by Ukrainian drones on May 23.
Duels between Boat and Helicopter
Ukraine continued its naval drone operations. In addition to attacking Russian ships, they started using these drones armed with unconventional weapons. Drones equipped with Grad rocket launchers shelled the coast of Crimea. On Monday, May 6, footage of battles between Ukrainian drones and Russian patrol helicopters was released. In one video, a Russian Kamov Ka-29 helicopter fires a machine gun at a Ukrainian naval drone in Vuzka Bay, Crimea. The prolonged duel involved intense maneuvering from both vehicles, but eventually, the boat was hit and started burning.
However, a second battle ended in a draw. The naval drone was equipped with an anti-aircraft missile, either an R-73 or R-60, mounted on a rail on its back. When a Russian Mi-8 helicopter attacked, the drone fired this missile at it. Although the missile missed, the helicopter retreated to safety.
During the observed period, naval drones sank at least one Russian speedboat and reportedly hit a Russian minesweeper. The Karakurt-class corvette Cyclone was supposedly destroyed by missiles in the port of Sevastopol on Sunday, May 19.
Images from the duel between a Russian Ka-29 and a Ukrainian naval drone.
A Ukrainian naval drone equipped with an R-73 missile.
Ukrainian Losses
The Ukrainian air force also suffered losses during this period, both on the ground (though not as severe as the Russian losses) and one in the air. On Saturday, May 11, the Russians managed to locate a forward helicopter base near Manvelivka in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Two Mi-24 helicopters were destroyed in the subsequent attack, killing at least three pilots: Major Anatoliy Skiba, Lieutenant Oleksandr Atasov, and Chief Sergeant Serhiy Nazarčuk, all reportedly from the 11th Independent Army Aviation Brigade.
On May 15, 16, and 18, the airfield in Myrhorod in the Poltava region was repeatedly targeted by Russian missile attacks. Satellite images indicate that one aircraft shelter took a direct hit, but it is unclear if anything was inside.
Subsequently, on Wednesday, May 22, Dnipro airport, where retired Yak-40 aircraft were destroyed the previous month, was hit again. This time, a MiG-29 fighter was struck. Given the intense fire, it was likely an airworthy airplane and not a decoy.
The sole Ukrainian air loss occurred on Friday, May 17, when a Su-27 from the 831st Tactical Aviation Brigade was shot down while attacking ground targets. The experienced pilot, Lieutenant Colonel Denis Vasyljuk, was killed. The aircraft was reportedly hit by an R-37 or R-77 missile fired by a Russian Su-35S fighter.
A Ukrainian MiG-29 in a shelter.
Lieutenant Colonel Denis Vasyljuk died on May 17 in the cockpit of a Ukrainian Su-27.
A Ukrainian Su-24.
A Kub system delivered to Ukraine from the Czech Republic.
A Ukrainian OSA AK with R-73 missiles.
FrankenSAM – a combination of a Buk launch system and Sea Sparrow missiles.
Propaganda vs. Reality
To avoid accusations of spreading only "Western propaganda," we also include some from the Eastern perspective. The Russian armed forces officially announced that from May 11 to May 17, they destroyed four Mi-24 helicopters, six MiG-29 fighters, and one Su-27. Out of these eleven claims in one week, only three are confirmed.
Since the start of the three-day special operation, which by the time this information was released had lasted 816 days, the Russians officially announced the destruction of 601 aircraft, 274 helicopters, 24,234 unmanned vehicles, 522 anti-aircraft missile systems, 16,058 tanks and other armored vehicles, 1,303 rocket launchers, and 9,635 guns and mortars. How Ukraine could have obtained such quantities of equipment and how it can continue to fight after such losses remains unexplained by Russian propaganda.
Austrian expert and author of many books on military aviation Tom Cooper published much more sober figures. His Slovak colleague Miloš Šipoš compiled tables of losses that are 100% verified, showing that from February 24, 2022, to May 18, 2024, Ukraine lost 38 aircraft of all types and 48 helicopters. This does not include decommissioned machines that were grounded at airports and subsequently destroyed or captured by the Russians.
During the same period (two years and three months), the Russian air force lost 99 aircraft and 117 helicopters. The actual numbers on both sides are likely higher as many losses are confirmed only after several months.
A Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter being washed after a low-altitude combat flight.
A Ukrainian Mi-17V-5 helicopter was damaged by a shrapnel, presumably from a man-portable missile. The photo was released on May 30. The Afghan emblem is visible under the Ukrainian insignia.
A hypermarket in Kharkiv that was hit by a Russian glide bomb on May 25, killing 19 people and injuring 65.
New Reinforcements
Finally, let's mention some new additions to the Ukrainian air force's arsenal. MiG-29 fighters were seen equipped with BRU-61 racks. Each of these racks can normally carry four GBU-39 SDB (Small Diameter Bombs). The BRU-61s are mounted on the inner hardpoints under the wings near the fuselage. However, the MiG-29's payload capacity isn't large enough to handle a full load of eight GBU-39 bombs. Each rack can therefore carry a maximum of three bombs, totaling six. There were also flight photos showing a MiG-29 carrying five of these bombs – three on one rack and two on the other. According to the accompanying description, these photos even showed an originally Slovak MiG-29, but this is not certain.
At the very end of the observed period, it was reported that Sweden would deliver two Saab 340 Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft to Ukraine. In recent years, these aircraft have received upgraded electronic systems providing them with higher protection. Their radar can capture aerial targets at a range up to 400 km and can track more than 300 targets simultaneously – not just aerial, but also maritime and ground targets. For the planned deliveries of F-16 aircraft, this is significant because the Saab 340 can serve as extended eyes for these fighters. Until now, the Ukrainian air force did not have this capability, while the Russian side had the advantage with A-50 aircraft.
These photos allegedly show an originally Slovak MiG-29 carrying the GBU-39 bombs.
GBU-39 bombs under the wing of a MiG-29.