The decrease in the number of Russian aviation sorties is the best confirmation of the destruction of enemy aircraft.
Over the past two weeks, from February 17 to March 2, at least six Russian Su-34 aircraft did not return to their airfields. This may confirm the recent losses of Russian aviation, OSINT analysts on the Dnipro Telegram channel report, citing satellite images of Russian front-line airfields.
It is noted that in total, the Ukrainian air defense forces announced the downing of 11 Russian Su-34 fighters, but the fact of the downing of only two aircraft was visually proven. This is explained by the conduct of operations over the occupied territory.
In total, analysts cite four of the analyzed satellite images:
- Primorsko-Akhtarsk airfield – according to researchers, at least one Su-34 did not return to its home base. In general, the Su-34 should not be at the airfield as a whole, but at the beginning of the war four units were nevertheless relocated there, one of them was probably shot down over Mariupol
- Krymsk airfield – probably four Su-34s did not return to their home base. Before the war, such aircraft were not based here, but they appeared recently.
- Morozovsk airfield – probably one Su-34 did not return to its home base. There should be about 20 Su-34s at the airfield overall, but most of them are not visible in the images, so these images should be taken with skepticism, experts add.
- Khanskaya airfield – eight Su-34s were redeployed closer to the front. The planes probably had to be moved due to the devastation of the above-mentioned airfields. According to analysts, this can be refuted or confirmed in the near future.
Experts add that the decrease in the number of Russian aviation sorties to support its troops at the front is the best confirmation of the results of the work of the Ukrainian military.
Russian aviation losses
Earlier, wrote that from February 17 to today, the occupying forces lost 15 aircraft, among which were Su-34s. All told, the Russians probably have about 300 different Sukhoi fighters. Russia has been forced to significantly reduce its air activity in the east amid recent high losses.
Along with the expensive aircraft, the enemy is losing pilots – if at the beginning of the war lieutenant colonels and majors were at the controls, now they are senior lieutenants.
