During the period of Russia’s large-scale war against Ukraine, Ukrainian defenders recorded significant losses of the enemy’s strategic aviation, as well as achievements in combating its missile threat
This was reported in an interview for "Ukrainska Pravda" by Colonel Yurii Ignat, head of the Air Force Command’s communications department of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to him, from the very first days of the large-scale war, which began in February 2022, Russian strategic aircraft — Tu-95 and Tu-160 — have been actively participating in missile attacks on Ukrainian territory, using cruise missiles of various models. According to available data, approximately 2,437 cruise missiles have been launched from Russian aircraft carriers during this time, with the most common models being Kh-101, Kh-555, and Kh-55. Ukrainian air defense once again demonstrated its effectiveness: out of this number, Ukrainian forces shot down 1,916 missiles — over 78 percent of the total missile arsenal launched. However, as Ignat states, today about 500 cruise missiles still reach their targets or escape destruction. This indicates a substantial and ongoing missile threat from Russia, which remains relevant and dangerous for Ukrainian skies and the safety of the population. It is important to note that despite the impressive results of the air defense, some Russian missiles still hit their targets. This shows that Russian military retains a significant missile potential, even amidst the destructions caused by Ukrainian defenders. That is why the defenders insist on increased caution and vigilance within the defense forces and also urge the population to stay constantly prepared for possible new strikes. Regarding the destruction of Russian strategic aircraft, Ukrainian special services, the SBU, reported that Ukrainian military forces damaged over 40 aircraft as part of the operation called "Spider Web." These include various types of aircraft that sustained different levels of damage: some burned down completely, others received serious and irreversible damage, and some were so badly damaged that they can be repaired in the future. However, Ignat states that most of these aircraft have not yet been restored to combat readiness and temporarily cannot perform strategic aviation missions or carry out terrorist attacks on Ukrainian territory. Nevertheless, the officer emphasized that Russia still has considerable reserves of means to strike Ukrainian infrastructure and the population, and therefore Ukraine must stay alert. "We have not destroyed all Russian strategic aircraft, so caution among our armed forces, airspace defenders, and — importantly — every Ukrainian must be as high as possible," emphasized Yurii Ignat. He called on citizens to remember the high level of danger and to stay conscious during this difficult time, as the war continues and the enemy actively employs various methods to achieve its goals.