Despite heavy losses of men and machines, the ageing Ukrainian Su-25s have heroically taken the fight to the Russians and helped turn the tide in the war, as Vladimir Trendafilovski explains.
When Russia began the all-out invasion of Ukraine in the early morning of February 24, the Ukrainian Air Force’s (UkrAF’s) fleet of Su-25 Frogfoot attack aircraft went into combat almost immediately, being present practically on all fronts simultaneously. The daring actions of the Ukrainian pilots in the initial stages of the conflict proved decisive in stopping the Russian onslaught – and winning it the status of one of the most iconic components of the country’s armed forces that are taking an active part in the ongoing conflict.
Despite substantial losses in crew and equipment, the UkrAF Su-25s – operated by the 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade (brTA) – have endured more than 230 days of war and remain in action, being responsible for a substantial portion of the UkrAF’s combat sorties against the enemy.
