Russia's claims of destroying Ukrainian jets remain disputed
The Russian Ministry of Defence claims that on February 22, a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet was shot down, along with numerous other air assault assets being destroyed. However, independent sources have not confirmed these reports, reports the Defense Romania service, adding that since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Russians have claimed to have shot down more planes than Ukraine possesses.
The Russian Ministry of Defence reported that on February 22, their air defence systems downed a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet and other air assault assets in a single day. This information comes from a press release delivered by the Interfax and Tass agencies. It stated that in addition to the Ukrainian MiG-29, the Russians claimed to have eliminated two Hammer bombs, two HIMARS missiles, and 58 unmanned aerial vehicles.
Russians vs. Ukrainian MiG-29s
According to Russian data, three Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jets were shot down in the past week. Since the beginning of the conflict, Russia claims to have destroyed 656 aircraft, 283 helicopters, and 44,190 drones belonging to Ukraine. The Ukrainian Air Force does not disclose exact numbers regarding their fighter jets.
However, Defense Romania notes that in the spring of 2023, the spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, Yuri Ignat, mentioned three brigades of MiG-29s, suggesting the possession of about 70 such machines. After gaining independence, Ukraine had 240 MiG-29s, of which about 50 were operational at the start of the war. Additional aircraft were delivered from Poland and Slovakia.
Meanwhile, Russian sources on social media claim that in the three years of the conflict, 207 MiG-29s, 65 Su-27s, 203 Su-25s, and 58 Su-24s were destroyed. That would total 533 aircraft, which is a smaller number than Russian authorities report. Defense Romania emphasizes that official Russian data and social media data are not fully reliable. From the data presented by the Russians—both official and from social media—it appears that the Russians have shot down more planes than Ukraine actually possessed, which in practice would mean that Kyiv no longer has any military aviation. However, this is not the case, and Ukrainian aircraft continue to conduct daily combat flights.
Western support for Ukraine
It should not be forgotten that Ukraine is also modernizing its air force by acquiring F-16 fighters and Mirage 2000-5 from Western allies. F-16s are being delivered to Ukraine starting in 2024, while the French Mirage 2000-5 appeared in Ukraine in early February 2025, as confirmed by French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon is an American multirole jet fighter, designed by General Dynamics and currently produced by Lockheed Martin. The aircraft is characterized by good manoeuvrability and versatility, making it effective in both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. It can achieve a maximum speed of about 2,400 km/h, and its operational range is approximately 5,500 km. The Dassault Mirage 2000-5 is also a multirole fighter, being an evolution of earlier versions of the Mirage 2000.
Introduced into service in 1997, it was designed to increase effectiveness in both air-to-air and air-to-ground actions. It features a single-engine design with a distinctive delta wing configuration, affecting its manoeuvrability and performance. The aircraft can fly at a maximum speed of approximately 2,200 km/h, operate at altitudes up to about 20,000 meters, and has an operational range of approximately 1,500 km. Both machines can carry a wide range of Western weaponry.
