Russia struggles to maintain aging Tu-22M3 bomber fleet amid losses
Russia's Tu-22M3 strategic bomber fleet is diminishing due to production cessation since 1993, recent losses in Ukraine, accidents, and modernization difficulties.
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Russian air force
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Two of five Russian airfields in occupied Crimea left without aircraft, Ukrainian Navy says
Russian-occupied Crimea has five military airfields, but two are reportedly without aircraft. Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Pletenchuk states Russian occupiers may have relocated planes to Russia due to logistical challenges in fuel and supply provision.
Russian Su-25 jet shot down on Pokrovsk front by Ukrainian forces
Ukraine's 110th Separate Mechanised Brigade has shot down a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft in Donetsk Oblast.
Russia loses two aircraft, as Su-25 attack jet downed in eastern Ukraine, and Su-34 bomber crashes in North Ossetia
Ukraine says it has downed a Russian Su-25 attack jet in Donetsk Oblast. Separately, a Russian Su-34 bomber crashes in North Ossetia during a training flight, killing both pilots.
UK intel: Ukrainian attack on Krasnodar Krai air base forces dispersal of Russian aircraft, boosting operational burdens
Dispersal of around 40 Russian aircraft from Kushchovskaya airfield due to Ukrainian attack will increase sortie lengths, fuel costs, and strain on aircrews, per UK intelligence.
UK intel: Ukraine’s disruption of Russian tactical air likely to force Russia to further disperse aircraft
Ukraine's April 27 drone strike on Russia's Kushchevskaya airfield disrupted Russian air operations, likely forcing Russia to disperse its aircraft and reallocate air defenses, impacting its aerial bombardment campaign against Ukraine, per UK intelligence.
“Week-long ambush” preceded historic Russian Tu-22 bomber downing, Ukraine intel chief says, confirming S-200 use
Ukraine's military intelligence chief reveals details of the successful operation to down a Russian Tu-22M3 bomber, confirms the use of the S-200 surface-to-air missile.
Media sources: Ukraine used old S-200 long-range SAM system to down Russia’s Tu-22M3 strategic bomber for the first time
Ukraine claims shooting down a Russian Tu-22M strategic bomber. Intelligence sources say Ukraine used the old S-200 SAM system to hit the aircraft from 300 kilometers away.
UK intel: Helicopters landing on painted fighter silhouettes expose flaws in Russia’s decoy strategy
Russia paints decoy fighter jets at air bases, but helicopters landing on fakes undermine deception, revealing true aircraft numbers, per UK intelligence.
Military: Russians use scorched earth tactics in Donbas, destroying everything with KAB bombs
In the Donbas, Russia is pursuing a scorched earth policy aimed at flattening Ukraine's defensive positions through overwhelming aerial firepower - precision-guided bombs from jets alongside sustained rocket strikes from helicopter gunships, as per the Ukrainian military spokesperson.
Air Force: Ukraine engages two Russian warplanes, downing one Su-34 bomber
Ukrainian Air Force commander Mykola Oleshchuk says Ukrainian missileers engaged two Russian aircraft in the east, downing one Su-34 fighter-bomber aircraft, which raises reported recent Russian plane losses to 15.
UK intel: Two A-50 AWACS aircraft downed in two months show Russia’s difficulty securing air assets
As Russia had lost its second A-50 AWACS aircraft, it can replace it with seven other airframes, but the loss of specialist crews in quick succession will further strain those remaining and force consideration of new operating areas, per UK intelligence.
General Staff: Ukraine destroys Russian Su-34 bomber in Luhansk Oblast
Ukrainian troops downed another Russian Su-34 bomber aircraft on 29 January, bringing the total of destroyed Russian fixed-wing assets to 332, Ukraine's General Staff says.
Russian IL-76 aircraft crashes in Belgorod Oblast, Russia claims it carried Ukrainian POWs
A Russian IL-76 military cargo plane crashed in Belgorod Oblast, with Russia's Defense Ministry claiming it carried 65 Ukrainian POWs.
Ukraine Air Force: Russian colonel, junior officers were on board of destroyed A-50 AWACS plane
The downing of Russia's A-50 radar and command aircraft on 14 January resulted in the loss of an air force colonel and junior officers who were on board, per Ukraine's Air Force spokesman.
ISW: Russian air operations drop over Azov Sea after Ukraine strikes hit radar plane, command aircraft
Russian tactical aviation presence over the Sea of Azov has reportedly dropped to unprecedented low levels after Ukrainian strikes eliminated an A-50 radar plane and damaged an Il-22 aircraft, degrading Russian air capabilities, ISW says.
Russia reportedly loses valuable AWACS A-50 aircraft over Azov Sea (updates)
Late on 14 January, Ukrainian forces hit Russia's valuable A-50 early warning and control aircraft and IL-22 airborne control center. This may be the Russian Air Force's most devastating loss since the start of the all-out war.
UK intel: Russia’s accidental bombings point to deeper issues within Russia’s air forces
Russia's military aircraft accidentally discharging aerial bombs over Russian and Ukrainian villages in three incidents since April 2023 reflects systemic inadequacies like poor training, crew fatigue, and unsafe tactical execution, per UK intelligence.
Drones attack Russia’s tactical bomber base in Rostov Oblast (updated)
Russia's MoD claims to have repelled a massive UAV attack from Ukraine, allegedly intercepting and destroying 33 suicide drones. Local sources say one of the attack's main targets was a bomber air base near Rostov's Morozovsk.
Media: Ukrainian border guards down Russian combat aircraft near Avdiivka
Ukrainian border guards operating near Donetsk Oblast's Avdiivka have reportedly shot down a Russian combat aircraft, a Su-25 attack jet as per initial reports, using a MANPAD system.