Russian claims of downed MiG‑29s defy aircraft numbers
The Russian Ministry of Defence claims that on 22nd February, a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet was shot down and numerous other air assets were destroyed. However, these reports have not been confirmed by independent sources, reports the Defence Romania service, adding that since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Russians have shot down more planes than Ukraine possesses.
The Russian Ministry of Defence reported that within one day—22nd February—their air defence systems shot down a Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet and other air assault assets. 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, Defence Romania points out 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 aircraft. After gaining independence, Ukraine had 240 MiG-29s, of which about 50 were operational at the beginning 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 fewer than the number reported by Russian authorities. Defence Romania emphasises 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 modernising 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 characterised 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 2,414 km/h, and its operational range is approximately 5,470 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 2,137 km/h, operate at altitudes up to about 19,812 metres, and have an operational range of approximately 1,497 km. Both machines can carry a wide range of Western weaponry.
