Outgunned and outdated, the Ukrainian Air Force’s 40th brTA has still managed to mount significant resistance following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as Babak Taghvaee reports.
![UkrAF 40th brTA MiG-29 [Sergey Popsuyevich]](https://fullfatthings-keyaero.b-cdn.net/sites/keyaero/files/inline-images/05A2276r.jpg "05A2276r.jpg")
This MiG-29 (Bort No ‘33 White’) is one of the 31 single-seat Fulcrum-Cs (Izdeliye 9.13s) operated by the 40th brTA. It is carrying two R-27R semi-active, radar-guided medium-range air-to-air missiles and four R-73 IR-guided short-range air-to-air missiles.
All images Sergey Popsuyevich, unless stated
At the behest of President Vladimir Putin, the Russian Armed Forces launched its unlawful invasion of Ukraine at 0400hrs (local time) on February 24, 2022. In the opening hours, ballistic missiles fired by the Russian Army and cruise missiles launched from Tupolev Tu-95MS Bear-H strategic bombers of the Russian Aerospace Forces (RuASF) and Russian Navy warships struck several Ukrainian air bases, including Vasylkiv near Kyiv. They failed to cause any damage to the base.
