Summary and Key Points: Heavy fighting continues on the frontlines in Ukraine, with significant losses for the Russian Aerospace Forces. British Military Intelligence reports that Russia has lost over 200 aircraft since March 2022.

Ukraine claims to have downed or damaged 359 Russian aircraft and 326 helicopters. Additionally, Ukraine has effectively targeted Russia's unmanned aerial systems, shooting down over three-quarters of Russian combat drones since September 2022.

Western-supplied air defense systems have been instrumental in countering Russian missile attacks. Russia's inability to dominate Ukrainian airspace has led to high attrition rates and significant daily casualties, with total Russian casualties nearing 525,000.

The heavy fighting on the frontlines in Ukraine continues. The summer has ushered in a new period of offensives.

However, although the situation is more stagnant in the air, the Russian Aerospace Forces are suffering serious losses.

Russia Aircraft Losses in Ukraine

“Russia has lost over 200 aircraft since March 2022, including some of their most advanced medium-range fighter-bombers/escort aircraft,” the British Military Intelligence assessed in its latest estimate of the war.

On their end, the Ukrainians claim to have shot down or damaged 359 Russian fighter, attack, bomber, and transport aircraft, as well as 326 attack and transport helicopters.

Although the Ukrainians have much better visibility on the Russian casualties, they also have a general tendency to “spice up” enemy casualties for psychological reasons.

However, overall, the Ukrainian estimates of Russian casualties have been corroborated by the West at some point.

As such, the actual Russian losses are likely somewhere in between the Western and Ukrainian estimates.

But in addition to the aircraft, the Ukrainians have wreaked havoc on the Russian unmanned aerial system fleet.

“Ukraine has shot down more than three quarters of Russian combat drones since September 2022,” the British Military Intelligence added.

Kyiv estimates that it has shot down approximately 11,000 drones since the war started, including tactical and strategic assets. The war in Ukraine has seen an explosion of drone usage. As such, the Ukrainian claim doesn’t seem that far-fetched, considering that even squads now employ drones.

Finally, the Ukrainians have been using Western-provided air defense systems, such as the MIM-104 Patriot, IRIS-T, and NASAMS platforms, quite effectively, taking out incoming Russian ballistic, cruise, and hypersonic munitions. The Kremlin has been using long-range munitions to target Ukrainian urban centers and critical infrastructure as a response to operational and tactical shortcomings on the battlefield. Thousands of Ukrainian civilians have been killed and wounded by Moscow’s blind missile attacks.

“Missiles that Putin claimed can overcome any air defense system the West possesses have been defeated,” the British Military Intelligence stated.

“Russia’s inability to dominate Ukraine airspace has forced high attrition rates and risk taking," the British Military Intelligence concluded.  

Heavy Casualties overall for Russia in Ukraine 

One thing that remains constant for the Russian military is the heavy casualty rate. Every day, the Russian forces on the frontlines lose several hundreds of men killed or wounded, as well as dozens of heavy weapon systems.

Indeed, in the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian military claims to have killed, wounded, or captured approximately 980 men, as well as destroyed or damaged 58 tactical vehicles and fuel tanks, 34 artillery pieces and multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), 33 unmanned aerial systems, 21 infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers, 17 main battle tanks, 5 cruise missiles, 4 pieces of special equipment, and 2 air defense systems.

The total number of Russian casualties in about 23 months of combat in Ukraine is nearing 525,000 men and tens of thousands of heavy weapon systems such as main battle tanks, artillery pieces, infantry fighting vehicles, armored personnel carriers, tactical vehicles, and aircraft.

About the Author 

Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.

All images are Creative Commons.