The Ukrainian Air Force Command on March 12 reported that, during the past 24 hours, Ukrainian fighter aircraft - fighter-bombers and attack helicopters - were engaged in up to ten raids in several areas across the country.

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Ukrainian Sukhoi Su-25 Grach (NATO: Frogfoot) (Picture source: Ukrainian MoD)

On March 11, a tactical group of Su-24M bombers, Su-25 attack aircraft, and Mi-24 helicopters carried out up to ten raids on enemy convoys, involving missile and bomb strikes targeting armored hardware and manpower. Su-27 and MiG-29 fighter aircraft challenged outnumbering enemy forces in up to ten aerial battles in several directions, having returned to their bases with zero losses. Nor the Air Force Command, nor Ukrinform provides details on the Russian assumed losses.

As no pictures nor videos showing these raids are available and considering the impossibility to check this statement, one may only assume that, like on the ground, air operations are also raging in the Ukrainian sky. Impossible to have a clue about what remains of the Ukrainian Air Force after more than two weeks since the beginning of the Russian invasion.

Let's simply remind that the Ukrainian Air Force is (was ?) headquartered in the city of Vinnytsia. When the Soviet Union collapsed and dissolved in 1991, many aircraft were left in Ukrainian territory. Ever since, the Ukrainian Air Force has been downsizing and upgrading its forces. The main inventory of the air force still consists of Soviet-made aircraft. Until the Russian invasion started on February 24, 2022, 36,300 personnel and 225 aircraft were in service in the Ukrainian Air Force and Air Defense forces.

According to the Pentagon, on March 15, kyiv kept 80% of its air force intact - 56 aircraft based in the west of the country. Moreover, the Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense is particularly effective. It is said to have shot down at least 15 planes and 20 helicopters.

Since the Ukrainian independence in 1991, the air force had suffered from chronic underinvestment, leading to the bulk of its inventory becoming mothballed or otherwise inoperable. Despite this, Ukraine still possessed the world's 27th largest air force and the 7th largest air force in Europe, largely due to the ability of its domestic defense industry Ukroboronprom and its Antonov subsidiary to maintain its older aircraft. The Russian strikes by missiles, bombers, drones, and artillery have harshly impacted the Ukrainian potential which nevertheless proves to remain very efficient.