Russian air defence systems shot down two Ukrainian MiG-29 aircraft

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that their air defence systems successfully intercepted and downed two MiG-29 fighters and a Su-25 attack aircraft belonging to the Ukrainian Air Force in a single day. 

The distinct locations of these instances have been detailed as Arkhangelsk, Kherson region, as well as Dmitrovka and Zvonetsky in the Dnipropetrovsk region. The declaration iterated, “Two MiG-29 fighters and one Su-25 attack aircraft of the Air Force of Ukraine were neutralized by our air defence systems,” Bulgarian Military reports.

Recent weeks have seen the Russian armed forces secure several victories against the aerial activity of Ukrainian fighter jets, both in flight and on the ground. Case in point, a week ago a Russian kamikaze drone named Lancet successfully targeted a Ukrainian Su-25 subsonic jet aircraft at the Dolgintsevo airfield, located within the Dnipropetrovsk region. The exact timing of this operation and the video footage remain indeterminate, surfacing today on Twitter [X]. 

Interestingly, a similar attack strategy was employed at the same airfield back in mid-September. Although, in the previous instance, the Lancet targeted a parked MiG-29 instead of a Su-25.

Buk-M3, S-300 and S-400

Furthermore, April saw Russia fortifying its air defence in the regions of Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk. This strategic move was commemorated with the announcement of the formation of new air defence units, an effort executed in honor of Air Defense Forces Day, as reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense. 

The Ministry further disclosed that the new units were armed with state-of-the-art defence mechanisms, including but not limited to Pantsir-S combat vehicles, the long-range S-400 Triumf air defence system, and the reputed Buk-M3 and S-300B4 complexes. These defence instruments were deployed in conjunction with other military formations and units of the military air defence.

All three can shoot down the MiG-29

The Buk-M3, S-300, and S-400 are all advanced air defence systems capable of shooting down a MiG-29 fighter. Each system has its own set of capabilities and missile options.

The Buk-M3 is equipped with the 9M317 missile, which is capable of intercepting and destroying various aerial threats, including fighter aircraft like the MiG-29 до 70 km distance.

The S-300 has different variants, such as the S-300PMU and S-300PMU2, which are capable of intercepting fighter aircraft. The S-300PMU uses the 48N6 missile, while the S-300PMU2 uses the 48N6E2 missile.

The S-400 is an even more advanced air defence system with a range of up to 400 kilometres. It is equipped with multiple missile types, including the 48N6E3 and 40N6 missiles. These missiles are specifically designed to engage and destroy various aerial targets, including fighter aircraft like the MiG-29.

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine

On the 21st of February, 2022, allegations emerged from Russia, asserting that a border facility under the jurisdiction of their Federal Security Service [FSB] had been decimated due to an aggressive shelling operation purportedly executed by Ukrainian forces. According to the Russian authorities, this unexpected and violent incursion resulted in the unfortunate demise of five Ukrainian combatants.

Ukraine, however, vehemently repudiated involvement in both occurrences, categorizing them as nothing more than deceptive maneuvers, or ‘false flags’.

In a significant development on that very day, the Russian government extended formal recognition to the self-proclaimed entities of DPR and LPR. This recognition, as per Putin, was not confined merely to the territories under their de-facto control, but encompassed the entire Ukrainian Oblasts. In an ensuing move, Putin commanded the mobilization of Russian military forces, inclusive of tanks, into the said regions.

Aggressive invasion

In a significant geopolitical development on the 24th of February, 2022, President Vladimir Putin of Russia commanded an aggressive military invasion into Ukraine. This act of aggression was executed by Russia’s formidable Armed Forces, which had been strategically amassed along the Ukrainian border in a show of ominous intent. 

This invasion was not a random act of violence, but a meticulously planned operation, characterized by precise airstrikes that targeted key military infrastructures within the Ukrainian territory. Concurrently, an armoured division of tanks rolled in from the Belarusian frontier, further intensifying the scale and impact of the offensive.

The Russian administration thus far has refrained from acknowledging the ongoing incursion into Ukraine as a “war”. This, despite the fact that the unfolding events bear all the hallmarks of a military conflict. Instead, the Kremlin insists on terming it a “special military operation”.