HISTORY
Ukrainian AF to support the ground attacks.
The Russian AF also had to engage in the
support of the ground attacks. In the preceding months it had always attacked from
the distance – either by the guided missiles
launched from their own territory far behind the frontline or unguided rockets on
the ballistic trajectory couple of kilometers
away from the frontline. During this period of time however the Russian pilots had
to execute repeated direct attacks. It was
required in an effort to stop or at least slow
down the Ukrainian blitzkrieg and chaotic
situation on the ground battlefield. During
these direct attacks they were of course
exposed to the mobile AA missiles used by
the Ukrainian soldiers which led to the steep increase in the losses.
Russian losses
On September 7 a Su-25SM was shot down
in the Kharkov area. At least four portable missiles were launched at it as it can
be seen in the video footage. It shows in
what environment the Russian pilots have
to operate while directly attacking the
ground targets.
The aircraft wreck was found in four days,
on September 11, near the village of Volochiv Yar. It carried “blue 04” call sign and
registration number RF-95134. Pilot’s fate
remains unknown. Around the same time
Su-34 with “red 20” call sign and registration number RF-95004 was shot down near
Izyum. It’s burnt out wreck was discovered
by the Ukrainian soldiers on September
9 during their advance.
This type, supposedly a pride of the
Russian AF, has not been very successful
in the Ukrainian war. At least 18 Su-34 are
confirmed destroyed. The heavier losses
were suffered only by Su-25 (namely 23)
which however more frequently operate
in the dangerous vicinity of the frontline.
One Su-34 was to be destroyed on September 12, but it is not fully confirmed. The
incident was captured on video shot from
the distance showing the wreck lying on
a Crimean field surrounded by the firefighting vehicles and rescue team members.
According to some source it could have
been Su-25.
Su-34’s black day was Saturday September 24 when two of this aircraft type were
confirmed destroyed. In fact, the Ukrainians
claimed more kills on that day, including a
helicopter. Two kills however are recorded
on video. The first Sukhoi plunged to the
ground near Hlushchenkov in the Kharkov
area after the hits by Stinger mobile missiles set one of its engines on fire. The other
Su-34 crashed on that day at Petropavlivka
near Kupyansk. The crew ejected to safety.
During this reporting period the Ukrainians
also claimed several helicopters destroyed. The hits by mobile missiles on two
Ka-52 are confirmed and both helicopters
crashed on October 1 in the Zaporozhye
November 2022
area. Their crash was captured on video.
Kamov Ka-52 is another aircraft type that
has not been successful in the Ukrainian
war. At least 22 of them were destroyed.
Accidents and gift for intelligence
In addition to the combat losses the intense deployment and consequent pilots’ and
equipment fatigue result in accidents. Two
of them on the Russian side were recorded
during the reporting period. On September
19 two S-25s were taking off from Millerovo airbase one after the other in quick order. Under the wings they carried two drop
tanks and two B-13L rocket launchers for
five S-13 122 mm caliber rockets, a typical
load for the type of combat missions Russian AF conducts in Ukraine. Immediately
after getting airborne both aircraft started
to turn left. The rear aircraft banked too
much, slipped to the ground and exploded. The pilot did not survive. According
to the Russian media it was 27-years old
Daniil Dolbik from city of Donetsk in the
Russian Rostov area (not to be confused
with well-known Donetsk in Ukraine!). The
A Russian Su-25 “Blue 04” with registration number
RF-95134 was shot down in Kharkiv Oblast in early
September.
The downed Su-30SM with registration number RF-81773 and call sign ”Red 62” left a gift to the Ukrainians
in the form of an RTU 518-PSM electronic warfare container.
INFO Eduard
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