--- title: "The Russian Air Force Just Had A Terrible Day Over Ukraine" description: "Russia looks to have lost multiple combat jets, helicopters, and a drone in just the past day or so." date: "2022-03-05" modified: "2022-03-07" authors: - name: "Joseph Trevithick" job_title: "Deputy Editor" link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/joseph-trevithick.md" url: "https://www.twz.com/44602/the-russian-air-force-just-had-a-terrible-day-over-ukraine" categories: - "Air" - "Air Forces" - "Around The Globe" - "Europe" - "News & Features" - "Russia" - "Russian Air Force" - "Ukraine" tags: - "air defenses" - "air superiority" - "ceasefires" - "combat jets" - "evacuations" - "fighter jets" - "helicopters" - "invasion" - "MANPADS" - "NATO" - "no fly zone" - "Nuclear" - "russia" - "Ukraine" --- # The Russian Air Force Just Had A Terrible Day Over Ukraine ![]() *www.twz.com* After 10 days, it remains clear that the skies over Ukraine are very much contested, with a notable spike in reported Russian aircraft losses just in the past day or so. In general, Ukrainian forces, as well average civilians, continue to resist the invading forces and the Kremlin increasingly lays siege to major population centers. Before getting into the latest news, you can get up to speed on the state of the conflict in our previous rolling coverage [here](). ## The Latest ***UPDATED—*** You can find our latest rolling coverage of the conflict in Ukraine [here](). ***POSTED: 1:30 PM EST—*** While it remains difficult to independently verify losses of any kind, personnel or materiel, on either side of Russia's war in Ukraine, it's fairly clear that the Russian military has lost numerous combat jets, helicopters, and at least one small drone since yesterday. The team of researchers [at the Oryx blog]() are confident based on the open-source information available that the past day or so has seen Russia lose a number of combat jets - one [Su-30SM Flanker](), two [Su-34 Fullbacks](), two [Su-25 Frogfoots]() - as well as two [Mi-24/Mi-35 Hind and two Mi-8 Hip]() helicopters, and an Orlan unmanned aircraft. There could be more, of course, and these are on top of already steady reported losses. Even if these numbers are off a bit one way or the other, it's clear Russia is rapidly shedding its air combat force over Ukraine. https://twitter.com/_/status/1500134424368848899 Various videos and pictures have emerged online of these reported shootdowns. https://twitter.com/_/status/1500074221665505285 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500109861534765056 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500109045709033477 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500133193332461571 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500088532031127554 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500138664453677058 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500104529362264066 There are unconfirmed reports that one of the pilots of one of the downed Su-34s was an individual with combat experience from the conflict in Syria. This aviator, who survived the shootdown and is now in Ukrainian custody, may be one of those arrayed around Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Syrian counterpart Bashar Al Assad in a picture previously taken at Russia's [Khmeimim Air Base]() outpost in Syria. https://twitter.com/_/status/1500116292723953669 It's not clear how Ukrainian forces have been shooting these aircraft down in each instance, but [shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles](), also known as man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS), appear to have been a major factor. A video, seen below, is circulating online now that reportedly shows one of these weapons hitting one of the Hind attack helicopters that was shot down recently. Former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko also recorded a video today with a Ukrainian soldier named Albert who reportedly brought down the Su-30SM with an [Igla-series MANPADS](). https://twitter.com/_/status/1500049746328788996 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500125133561741312 MANPADS, [including U.S.-made Stingers](), have been [important components of recent shipments]() of weapons and other materiel to Ukraine. A total of 14 cargo planes loaded with military assistance from various countries landed in areas bordering Ukraine on Friday, according to *The New York Times*. https://twitter.com/_/status/1500006010836164608 MANPADS have also been seen in the hands of Ukrainian troops providing cover for today's evacuations from the city of Irpin, which lies just to the west of Kyiv. https://twitter.com/_/status/1499830634985963526 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500088729645506561 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500114443472183309 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500073046975070212 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500056339481083904 At [negotiations earlier this week](), Russia has agreed to allow the safe passage of civilians out Irpin, as well as Volnovakha and the port city of Mariupol, both in the southeastern portion of the country. Ukrainian officials have accused Russia of failing to uphold the planned ceasefires, which led to the complete collapse of the evacuation from Mariupol. Russian shelling also reportedly cut a rail line leading out of Irpin, forcing many to flee on foot instead of by train as had been planned. https://twitter.com/_/status/1500128441345183745 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500056339481083904 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500073046975070212 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500114443472183309 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500129586117427201 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500040944229486596 The Kremlin, for its part, has claimed Ukrainian authorities in Mariupol of preventing civilians from leaving, ostensibly accusing them, without evidence, of holding them hostage for use as human shields against Russia's continued bombardment of that city. British authorities have already assessed this to be nothing more than an attempt to deflect from criticism its increasingly indiscriminate attacks in Ukraine that have [led to mounting civilian causalities](). https://twitter.com/_/status/1500096434179350534 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500159409976131584 Fighting is ongoing elsewhere across Ukraine. The negotiations this past week did not produce any plans for a more general ceasefire. There are also continuing reports of protests and other civil disobedience in cities that Russian forces now occupy, such as Kherson and Melitopol in the south, even in the face of possibly violent crackdowns. https://twitter.com/_/status/1500012944180064256 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500013406002290692 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500118411912916996 https://twitter.com/_/status/1499822484362645504 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500034218914684933 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500126664952623112 Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has reportedly met Putin in Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine. There are reports that Ukrainian authorities asked Bennett to try to act as a mediator. https://twitter.com/_/status/1500174129626226688 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500174135116582912 Earlier in the day, Putin had a televised sitdown with flight attendants from the country's airlines, which have now been [hit with massive international sanctions](). The Russian President said that those sanctions and others that have been slapped on Russia were tantamount to a declaration of war. In the course of his remarks, he added there are no plans currently to impose martial law in Russia and that he would consider any country or international organization, such as NATO, imposing a no-fly zone over Ukraine as being a party to the conflict. Yesterday, NATO formally ruled out enforcing a no-fly zone over Ukraine in spite of repeated appeals from Ukrainian officials. https://twitter.com/_/status/1500146262594797576 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500105025762340877 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500099723721588736 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500103293225381888 https://twitter.com/_/status/1500128254849691654 Putin also took this opportunity to reiterate the completely unsubstantiated claim that Ukraine is seeking to develop nuclear weapons. This is one of the Kremlin's arguments for why the invasion was necessary. https://twitter.com/_/status/1500161994858582017 We will continue to update this post with new information until we state otherwise. *C**ontact the author: joe@thedrive.com* ## Author Joseph is *TWZ’s* Deputy Editor, helping to oversee the site’s highly experienced and dedicated team, while also writing informative and impactful defense and national security content. He lives right in the thick of it in the Washington, D.C. area. ### Author social links [Twitter]() [Bluesky]()