Information and Statistics on the Russo-Ukrainian conflict

Correct as of 02/04/2026

Chapters 

Part 0: Introduction 

Part 1: War, Political and Economic Recaps 

Part 2 The Strength of the Ukrainian Military Pre War 

Part 3: The Air Situation in Ukraine 

Part 4: The Confusion of how Warfare works

Part 5: Why NATO aid failed in 2023 

Part 6: "Why is Russia using older stuff" 

Part 7: "Why were Russian Equipment losses in 2022 so high" 

Part 8: Statistics of the War 

Part 9: Sources  

Part 0: Introduction 

This is essay is the result of hundreds of hours of research, it's main goal is two fold. 

1. To give you an objective analysis (from a military perspective) of the conflict. 

2. To explain various popular issues, such as what is the air situation or why did Russia lose so much equipment in 2022 or why did Ukraine's 2023 counter offensive fail. 

I don't gide the fact that I hate Ukraine. They have no shame. They shot down a jet carrying their own POWs, they blew up their own dam (which killed or injured hundreds) to sweep minefields for their offensive, they purposely set of IEDs in marketplaces, they fire missiles towards crowded beaches, they use food grain trucks to transport weapons and in Mariupol they turned every single school into a military command center and they have gestapo units that take innocent men to fill quotas, random men who look over 18 get thrown in a van, trained for 5 days then given a gun, they have language police that arrest or punish anyone for speaking 🇷🇺, they teach their kids that they are true Europeans and 🇷🇺 are descended from golden horde and they have literal children guarding checkpoints with guns asking people to speak to make sure they have a 🇺🇦 dialect. 

Don't even get me started on the stuff they did to those living in the east from 2014 to 2021. 

Truly a horrible society. I didn't believe much of this at the start but when you actually do the research. Wow. 

But also fuck Russia. Both sides are horrible. I just want the war over and donbas free from Ukraine. 

Part 1: War, Political and Economic Recaps 

 War Recap 

The Assault on Kiev. 

During the initial invasion, Russian air force quickly secured air superiority by taking out various S-300 and Buk radars and air defence C2 hubs with mostly Kh-58s, Kh-31s and Kh-22s, the biggest asset was Russian EW carried out by Su-34Ps and Su-24MPs that aided Su-34s and Su-24M2s supported by A-50Us in the air and Ka-31Rs around the coast and various mobile radar stations on the ground. This achieved air superiority in days in the northern regions and allowed ground forces to rapidly push as Ukrainian defence in the North was very limited, by the end of the week Russia was at Kiev. 

This came to an end however when Ukraine promised to meet in Turkey for peace talks and would agree to russisn terms in exchange for Russian withdrawal from Kiev. 

Russia agreed but then Ukraine betrayed Russia likely due to the NATO pressure. 

The Donbass Assault. 

The assault on Donbass was a completely different story. Ukraine had spent years building their main defensive lines in these regions and the bulk of their Virazh IADS was clustered around the donbas regions. Gains in these regions were relatively slow although once Russia had redeployed their forces from the north, they established favourable air situation by establishing their IADS in the separatist regions. Then they launched its successful Donbas offensive and captured Mauriopl, Melitopol, Tokmak, Kherson, Kupyansk, Izyum, Severdonetsk and Lyscansk. 

Ukraine Strikes back 

Russia was winning after it's northern withdrawl however Ukraine launched 2 major counter offensives with the Kherson and Kharkov offensives being a massive success, Reasons for these success can be attributed to poor logistics at the time by Russia (as likely they were hoping for a fast few weeks to couple months victory), leaving the Kharkov region solely defended by DPR and LPR troops who are mostly infantry with little artillery or armour support and the biggest issue, manpower as Russia had not mobilised any men as Russia only deployed around 150,000 troops with 40,000 DPR & LPR troops and mercenaries when Ukraine had around 200,000 active service and paramilitary and mobilised 900,000 reservists day one and of course Russia didn't gain air superiority over Ukraine until around summer 2023 as I think they were just thinking Ukrainian air power would be irrelevant.

By the end of 2022 Ukraine was at best, basically winning and at worst a stalemate. However this changed by the end of January 2023 after Russia had mobilised some of its reservists, re-organised the army, fixed its logistics issues and had gained air superiority over the frontlines and captured the city of Soledar.

The Counter Offensive 

Prior to the counter offensive russia had undertaken a huge SEAD campaign to secure air superiority in the Eastern regions to allow their aviation free reign against Ukrainian armour that would eventually attempt to break through. 

In June 2023, Ukraine began it's long awaited Spring Counter Offensive, having been hyped up by Ukraine and western countries, as "the beginning of the end for Russia" with ~$50 billion in frontline NATO equipment, over ~$100 billion in logistics, it's thought that Ukraine would at least make some good gains, it was a massive failure, capturing only ~370 km² out of the ~44,000 km² territorial goals of Zaporizhia, Kherson and Crimea. After Ukraines failed counter offensive, Russia launched their own offensive and captured numerous cities and towns and was winning in both maneuvered warfare and attrition warfare. 

The Russian Retaliation 

Almost immediately after they realised they were just sending meat to an unbreakable wall. Russia Launched its offensive in November. Since the capture of the city of Marinka in January 2024 till the push towards chasiv yar in june it captured nearly ~2000km² according to averages by suriak maps, deep state UA and rybar. They have captured numerous cities, towns and villages. They opened up a new front in the North and were pushing on all fronts. Ukraine had over a million men fighting in 2022 yet its top general's are saying it needs 500,000 men to have a serious chance and are talking about their SEVENTH mobilisation. Yet apparently They've only lost 31,000. Meanwhile Russia according to biased but semi reliable mediazona has lost ~120,000 or ~200,000 if you count everyone fighting for Russia at the highest estimate.  

Ukraines only successes for nearly a year were firing thousands of rockets, drones and missiles at Russia every day then when ⅛ get through have their media leak it to Western media and make propaganda about how this shows how bad Russian air defence systems are when in reality it's like shooting an M60 at a target and hitting all around but clipping a couple seconds where you hit the target and saying "see how good a shot I am" ignoring that most your shots missed.

The Kursk Gambit 

In august 2024 Ukraine launched an attack into the Kursk region. They gained around ~1000 km² in nearly two weeks before it slowed down. We should note there's a difference between this and where Russia is advancing, the kursk area was mostly defended by border guards who are largely just Infantry with a few armoured units, it's not really that big. Look at it like this when this is the first advance you've made in over a year and it's only against an unguarded area and you don't have the men in those regions to push further. What does it prove ? Especially when you are losing ground on 3 other fronts. But regardless the kursk offensive went quite well and were a temporary PR victory. 

Russians Strike Back 

The Kursk offensive went well, nearly ~1000km² captured in over 2 weeks or nearly double what Russia captured on average in a month at that time. (Russia captured on average 300 to 900 km² a month during that time) the Kursk area was relatively unguarded but some reinforcements have arrived and Russia hae taken back over 600km² by end of 2024. The problem is manpower and funding, its 2022 all over again, Russia's refusal to mobilise enough men and equipment and increase the budget to accommodate it, is costing them territory and Ukraine like in 2022 has smartly advanced in an area that had little defensive fortifications. Although Russia is building up forces along the northern border so maybe they have seen sense and are preparing another mobilisation. But as of September Ukraines offensive is still pushing ahead.

Attrition warfare 

Russia was pushing in the east towards the city of Pokrovsk and in Chasiv Yar and ahead of Niu York and is pushing in the north in Kursk and west of Kursk, this is a war of attrition. In attritional warfare Russia is winning. At the average current rate of attrition, Ukraine will be out of functional military equipment by 2028 whilst Russia won't be until 2035 (and that's just operational stuff,  not stuff in storage or new build), pre war number wise Ukraine will be out of combat capable men by 2030 whilst Russia won't be until 2056. Ukraine has been kicked out of kursk which is a humiliation for them especially as Russia hasn't withdrawn from Donbas and that is likely to happen as Ukraine has lost over half the Kursk region it took. Russia recently used their missile launchers and aviation to light up Ukraine and knock out around half the country's power grid and Ukraine tried to use their aviation to support their troops in kursk not long before the total loss but their fighters made up of 2x Su-27s and a 2× MiG-29 were taken out presumably by an R-77-1/M or R-37M launched most likely by MiG-31BM and a MiG-29 taken out by an S-400 both over Ukraine, again reminding them that whilst Ukraine have advanced, Russia still has dominance in the skies. Ukraine has launched low flying drones towards Russian cities launched by pro Ukraine partisans in Russia to get past Russian air superiority.

Current Situation 

Currently Russia is advancing on all fronts with an average of over a dozen or two km² per day meanwhile Ukraine is struggling to take at least 1 km², they have taken the cities of Kupyansk and Pokrovsk and are moving around kherson and kharkov. They have kicked Ukraine out of kursk and are launching far more sorties against Ukraine. So Russia is winning in both maneuvered warfare and attrition warfare with Ukraines recent push into kursk failing to gain any ground after the 2nd week and Russia was still capturing more ground than Ukraine in kursk by then, Ukraine has not made a serious advance (took more in a day than lost) In donbas in around a year. 

Russias advance In Ukraine never slowed down and kept gaining ground and by early 2025 kursk had been taken back. Russia within a week created a near 400 km² buffer zone around sumy and as of October 2025 Russia is winning in both maneuvered and attrition warfare. Ukraines only "victories" have been insurgency type attacks like drone attacks during operation spider Web which took out 10 Tu-95 bombers and damaged two mothballed A-50s. Recently drones were fired into Poland and Romania, supposedly by Russia although it makes no sense for Russia to do this and this echoes of 2023 when Ukraine fired S-300 missiles into Poland and tried to blame Russia. 

Political Recap

Ukraine is facing a tough challenge, there is feud in its high command between its top general and zelensky, with polls showing Ukrainian public support of zelensky and his government has fallen 40% since 2022 whilst the military still has a large support. Ukraine is also cracking down hard on any and all anti war voices with a recent anti war journalist dying whilst imprisoned. There is also growing discord because Ukraine is asking refugee countries to send back Ukrainian male refugees and Ukraine has authorised another round of mobilizations. Recently zelenski's government tried to pass a law lowering the conscription age but it failed to get through parliament.

Zelensky has banned elections, all anti war group's, any opposition parties and any politician who has any sympathetic views or ties to Russia has been arrested, detained, killed or imprisoned.

Ukraine has been expanding its influence mostly by zelensky attending conferences asking for military aid, but Ukraine has also been trying to show off some of its weapons for potential investments, some of which have potential like their Neptune ASMs and Vilkha GMLRS. However Ukraine has gained many new allies, especially the United States, United Kingdom, most of the European Union, Canada, Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

Zelensky recently fired His chief general, and zaluzny responded by saying zelensky days are numbered, the political situation in Ukraine is at breaking point with the failure of the NATO trained and supplied 2023 counter offensive (that was supposed to take back Crimea and split Russia army and couldn't even breach the 2nd of 5 defensive lines), Russia advancing on Multiple fronts and Ukraine's single Krynky offensive achieving nothing but body bags and losing ground since russian counter attack, a military coup or pro Russia or anti zelensky revolution could happen, although with zelensky iron grip it's uncertain.

Ukraine is also pushing for its 7th partial mobilisation of the country as around 60-90% it's active service and reservists pre war are all either Kia or wounded, reports suggest Ukraine is looking to mobilise another 300,000-500,000 soldiers to bring it's active service up to over 1,100,000-1,300,000 men, or around 500-700k more than Russia who has ~600k estimated to be in Ukraine. With the fall of Avdeyevka and Russian advance not stopping in Pokrovsk, I think Ukraine is at breaking point with its government. Revolution or coup is becoming more likely every day and their push into kursk might have been a ploy to divert attention, however with American, European and British special forces also in Ukraine, they will likely be coordinating with zelensky and his secret police and intelligence services to 'shut down' any such voices or actions. 

Russia is largely stable since the short lived Wagner insurrection, United Russia remains high in the polls and public opinion of Putin remains high, there have been some terrorist attacks against Russian civilians especially in Belgorod region but nothing major likely by Ukrainian backed "anti Putin" russians. The Russian state Duma recently barred several "extremist" anti war candid7uates from running, which is not surprising during war time with fear of foreign influence Britain and USA did similar things in WWII, the candidates barred as suspected of having ties to Ukraine.

Some Extremist Anti war voices are still cracked down on with many people critical of the Russian government being targeted and the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia and A Just Russia party have criticised the government in the Duma for the progress of the war and handling of its fallout. Vladimir Putin ran for president in 2024 going up against Communist Party Nikolay Kharitonov and Liberal Democrat Party Leonid Slutsky, Pro western spokesperson and anti Putin person Alexi has just died in custody, likely causes are other prisoners as he's not a popular person in Russia, natural causes or government interference as executing spies or traitors during war time is very common. It's also possible the government didn't want any threat during these times, however putin won the election by a large margin. 

Russia has been expanding its sphere of its influence with the new "anti imperialist" regime in Niger wanting to build good relations with Russia, Russia still has allies with China, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela, Turkmenistan, South Ossetia, Abkhazia, Armenia, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Belarus, and South Africa with having friendly relations with India, Hungary, Slovakia, Brazil, Serbia, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Niger, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Egypt, Vietnam and many others and of course Indonesia has just joined BRICS, Russian ally in Syria Assad was removed and replaced with pro Israeli and pro west Islamic extremist who didn't take long to start massacring thousands who civilians. Russia recently joined China for its 80th parade and showed a United front with China and India. 

2025 Economic Recap

Ukraines economy is all but finished and will struggle to recover without massive economic aid. With around 21.1% drop in economic output post war, nearly ⅓ of its labour force fleeing the country or conscripted for the war and with CPI inflation at 3-6% with its GDP nominal at $184 Billion and PPP $650 Billion at and its GDP nominal per capita at ~$5,500 and per capita PPP ~$19,600. It also has very large debts of around $400 billion to the IMF, World Bank, European Union and United States along with its massively diminished labour force. Its defence budget is nearly ⅓ of the GDP Nominal and is near 700% of the Tax revenue deficit alone. Its Hryvnia has been devalued 9-17% post war and of course naturally as result of the war its market cap has entirely tanked and foreign investment has been cut by around ¾ post war.

When the war in Ukraine is over, Ukraine is facing a very tough challenge, estimates for the cost of rebuilding Ukraine range from $600 billion to over $1.2 trillion, and this isn't counting the massive debts it's incurred from military and financial aid packages. If Russia wins it's likely they will rebuild as they have extensively rebuilt Donetsk, Mariupol, Luhansk and many towns and cities far from frontlines (based on video and picture evidence).

Without support, Ukraine will collapse. It is such a tragedy to know that if Ukraine just stayed out of NATO and gave independence to DPR and LPR and respected Crimean democracy none of this would have happened. Begensky is a sorry beast of a “man”. 

Russia's economy is doing very well, especially considering being sanctioned by two economic Superpowers, (with an overall economy growth in pure GDP by over ⅓ from 2022 to 2025 with $5t to $7t) with an internal net growth of around 7% post war with 0.6% slated for next year and CPI inflation at 5-7% with a GDP Nominal of ~$2 Trillion and GDP PPP of ~$7 Trillion with PPP per capita at ~$46,000 and per capita nominal at ~$19,000. However due to said sanctions from the United States and European Union it is now in sovereign default with the IMF, World Bank and "western" creditors and thus its market cap and foreign investment has tanked and its Rouble has been devalued around 0.5-2%. Its defence budget is 5% of GDP Nominal and around 19% of tax revenue.

Part 2 The Strength of the Ukrainian Military Pre War 

This wasn't the Ukraine of 2014, ~$19 billion from EU and ~$6 billion from USA in military funding from 2014 to 2021 along with their own domestic push helped them modernise much of their military, along with $44 billion from USA and ~$20 billion from EU in financial aid. They had also built a massive network of fortifications and defensive lines and were well prepared for the invasion. This wasn't some outdated military like Iraq. And this isn't including the ~$50 billion in mostly frontline NATO equipment along with ~$100 billion in logistics that they received in 2022 and 2023. 

Ukraine had a very good military, they had large stockpiles of 2nd Generation ATGMs and 2nd and 3rd Generation Manpads with many 3rd and 4th Generation ATGMs along with a large integrated soviet air defence network consisting of around 100 S-300P batteries (800-1200 Launchers each with 4 long range missiles) and over ~400 Buk-M1, Tor, Osa-AKM, Strela-10M3, S-200D and S-125. 

Their ground forces were very impressive with over 600 modern tanks akin to T-72B3 or M1A2 Abrams Sep, over 2000 3rd Generation Tanks akin to M1 Abrams and T-80s and over 500 2nd Generation models akin to M60A2s and T-72As. Nearly ~2,000 IFVs that were at M2 Bradley level like BRM-1K, BMP-2 and BMD-2, ~1,000 BMP-1Ps and BMD-1Ps and ~300 modern IFVs like BTR-4 and BTR-3,~6,000 APCs, ~2,000 Mortars, nearly ~1,500 SPAGs & SPMCs like 2S1, 2S9, 2S3M, 2S7 and 2S19, ~1,200 anti tank guns like SPG-9M and 2A19, ~1,500 artillery guns like D-20, 2A18, 2A36 and M-60 along hundreds of MLRS Launchers like BM-21 and BM-27 and nearly ~500 GMLRS and Missile Launchers like BM-30, Vilkha, OTR-21 and Neptune. Topped off with nearly ~200 4th Gen fighters like MiG-29A and Su-27, ~400 4th Gen Attack Aircraft like Su-24M, Su-25 and Mi-24D, ~100 ASW Aircraft like Mi-14, Ka-25 and Be-10, ~400 helicopters like Mi-8 and Mi-17 and a few dozen AGS and recon Aircraft like An-30 and Su-24MR. 

They had a fully Modernized Infantry of around ~200k, outfitted with modern combat gear, modern rifles, modern digital radios and battlefield management tablets for squad commanders and modern night fighting equipment for special forces. 

Ukraine was no longer the meme force that in 2014 lost territory to poorly armed rebels and lost all crimea in a day. They were now a fully modernised fighting force battle hardened. 

Night Vision 

Ignoring huge military aid from 2014. Ukraine had a large domestic industry with various modern and advanced military systems, including. 

They have their own HIMERA series of fully digital encrypted portable radios for commanders and squad leaders, similar to US AN/PRC-163 and Russian R-187. 

They have their own Lybid-2 developed with turkey and south korea which are fully digital radios for vehicles similar to Russian R-168 and American AN/VRC-163. These are utilised on T-64BV-17, T-64BM, T-64BM2, T-84U, BTR-3, BTR-4, 2S22, Vilkha and various APCs and vehicles. 

They also have their own Basalt battlefield management system utilised on СН series CCI displays for vehicles, these are similar to Russian PTK and Svod and American BFT. These are fitted to T-64BV-17 and T-64BM2 models. 

Ukraine also had its own blue force tracking network, like Russian YeESU-TZ or US FBCB2, called DELTA utilised by Aerorozvidka for Tankers, infantry commanders, drone operators, artillery crews etc. They also had the DIU and SZRU which was the major Ukrainian intelligence service, similar to USA CIA and Russia GRU, that utilise various SIGNIT and EW. 

There is also there own Kropyva which is a dedicated UAV/UCAV C2 system. 

This is similar to russian Glaz/Groza and Orbita. 

There is also the GIS Arta and digital encrypted Artillery targeting system for 2S22 and 2S1 and 2S3M1 upgrades. 

This is similar to Russian BARS and Zavet systems and American AFATDS. 

So this idea that Ukraine is just a bunch of farmers is laughable and most likely comes from the fact that in 2014 their military was very poor. This is TRUE near peer modern warfare. Something not seen since the Korean war. 

Let's go over what Ukraine had 

 00 = Active service or maintened reserve 

(00) = Permanent Storage 

Ukraine Military Capabilities 2022 

Ukraine 2022 Total Military Assets 

Tanks 3,103 (1240)

AFVs 11,338 (3090) 

Artillery Guns 3,731 (1340)

Anti Tank Systems 2,000 (2400)

Anti Aircraft Guns 6,632 (3560)

Air Defence Systems 1,022 / 64 (2092)

Rocket Artillery 782 (640)

C2 Systems 603 / 102 (680)

EW Systems 616

Engineering Vehicles 603 

Logistics Vehicles 17,220

Specialist Vehicles 415 (420)

Portable Anti Tank Systems 83,647 

Portable Air Defence Systems 10,000 (12,000)

Combat Aircraft 826 (421)

Special Type Aircraft 146 (61)

Strategic Bombers (17)

Logistical Aircraft 384 (544)

Aerial Drones 261

Amphibious Ships 2

Frigates 1

Corvettes 7

Fast Attack Craft 11

Mine Ships 7

EW Ships 3

Submarines 1

Ukraine Ground Force 2022

3.5 Gen Tanks 18

3+ Gen Tanks 644

3rd Gen Tanks 1,207 (330)

2.5 Gen Tanks 904 (300)

2nd Gen Tanks 300 (200)

1st Gen Tanks (440)

4th Gen ISVs 2

2nd Gen ISVs (36)

1st Gen ISVs (32)

4th Gen IFVs 306

3rd Gen IFVs 146

2nd Gen IFVs 1,964 (540)

1st Gen IFVs 1,044 (650)

3rd Gen APCs 1,215

2nd Gen APCs 6,343 (1640)

1st Gen APCs (560) 

3rd Gen LR Area Defence Systems 624 (600)

3rd Gen MR Area Defence Systems 80

2nd Gen VLR Area Defence Systems (324)

2nd Gen MR Area Defence Systems (100)

2nd Gen SR Area Defence Systems (783)

3rd Gen Point Defence Systems 18 / 84 

2nd Gen Point Defence Systems 275

1st Gen Point Defence Systems 24 (180)

3rd Gen ATGM Carriers 142 / 114

2nd Gen ATGM Carriers 84

Unmanned Rocket Launchers 50

4th Gen SR BM Launchers 4

3rd Gen MR BM Launchers 90

4th Gen SR CM Launchers 33

GMLRS / 194

4th Gen MLRS 211

3rd Gen MLRS 94 

2nd Gen MLRS 366 (240)

1st Gen MLRS (350)

4th Gen SPAAGs 49

3rd Gen SPAAGs 83

2nd Gen SPAAGs 200 (300)

1st Gen SPAAGs (60)

5th Gen SPAGs 95

4th Gen SPAGs 536

3rd Gen SPAGs 723

2nd Gen SPMCs 75

1st Gen SPMCs 318

Heavy Mortars 312 (90)

3rd Gen Towed AA Guns 900 (3200)

2nd Gen Towed AA Guns 5,400

2nd Gen Towed Artillery 917

1st Gen Towed Artillery 755 (1440)

3rd Gen Towed AT Guns 100

2nd Gen Towed AT Guns 500 

1st Gen Towed AT Guns 1,120 (2400)

3rd Gen AA EW Systems 32

2nd Gen AA EW Systems 38

3rd Gen ECM Systems 14

2nd Gen ECM Systems 60

4th Gen Radars 128

3rd Gen Radars 240 / 102 (300)

2nd Gen Radars 40 (380)

3rd Gen Counter Batteries 6

2nd Gen Counter Batteries 74

1st Gen Counter Batteries 260

Cargo Trucks 33,430

Utility Vehicles 16,200

Recovery Vehicles 115 

Trenchers 116

Anti Drone Systems 138

Minelayers 60

Minesweepers 31

Bridgers 372

IMVs 1,020

CC4 Vehicles 8

CC3 Vehicles 16

CC2 Systems 90

4th Gen Recon Vehicles 60

3rd Gen Recon Vehicles 2

2nd Gen Recon Vehicles 18

1st Gen Recon Vehicles 244 (420)

Mobile SATCOMS 50 

4th Gen ATGMs 1,047

3rd Gen ATGMs 2,600

2nd Gen ATGMs 80,000

3rd Gen Manpads 10,000

2nd Gen Manpads (7000)

1st Gen Manpads (5000)

Ukraine Air Force 2022

5th Gen Attack Aircraft 42

4th Gen Attack Aircraft 322 (60)

3rd Gen Attack Aircraft 119

4th Gen Fighters 167 (110)

3rd Gen Fighters (201)

2nd Gen Fighters 114 (100)

2nd Gen AEW&C Aircraft (1)

2nd Gen AGS&C Aircraft 29 (4)

3rd Gen ASW Aircraft 46

2nd Gen ASW Aircraft 38 (9)

3rd Gen Recon Aircraft 5 (20)

2nd Gen Recon Aircraft 3

3rd Gen ECM Aircraft 21 / 84 (25)

2nd Gen ECM Aircraft / 90 (2)

CC2 Aircraft 4

4th Gen Helicopters 7

3rd Gen Helicopters 85

2nd Gen Helicopters 55 (200)

1st Gen Helicopters 2 (149)

5th Gen Transports 3

4th Gen Transports 182 (36)

3rd Gen Transports 52 (31)

2nd Gen Transports 1 (58)

2nd Gen Supersonic Bombers (2)

1st Gen Supersonic Bombers (3)

2nd Gen Strategic Bombers (13)

Aerial Refuelling Tankers (12)

Recon UAVs 261

Navy 

Amphibious Landing Ships 2

ASW Vessels 6

Anti Ship Vessels 4

Gun Vessels 9

Minesweepers 6

Minelayers 1

Surveillance Ships 3

Attack Submarine 1

Stocks 

3.5 Generation Tanks

T-84 Oplot-M 18x 

3+ Generation Tanks

T-84 Yatagan 2x

T-84U 22x

T-72AMT 20x 

T-64BM2 Bulat 90x 

T-64BM Bulat 300x

T-64BV-17 210x

3rd Generation Tanks 

T-64BV 1,050x 

T-64B (330)

T-80UD 32x

T-80BV 100x

T-80BVK-21 10x

T-72UA1 34x

T-72AG 1x

2.5 Generation Tanks 

T-72B 904x

T-72A (100)

T-62M (200)

2nd Generation Tanks 

T-64A 300x (200)

1st Generation Tanks 

T-55A (440)

4th Generation Infantry Fighting Vehicles 

Kevlar-E 2x

Otoman 4x 

Sentinel 2x 

BMP-1-SPIS 32x

BMP-1MC 3x 

BMP-1UM 3x

BMP-1UD 1x

BMP-1TS 1x

BTR-4MV1 8x

BTR-4 200x

BTR-4E 50x

3rd Generation Infantry Fighting Vehicles 

BTR-3DA 64x 3rd Gen ATGM Carriers 

BTR-3E1 82x 

2nd Generation Infantry Fighting Vehicles 

BMP-2 1,434x (500)

BMD-2 72x

BRM-1K 458x (150)

1st Generation Infantry Fighting Vehicles 

BMP-1P 994x (400) 

BMD-1P 60x (140)

4th Generation Infantry Support Vehicles 

BMPV-64 1x

BMPT Strazh 1x 

2nd Generation Infantry Support Vehicles 

PT-76 (30) 

ASU-85 (6)

1st Generation Infantry Support Vehicles 

SU-100 (26)

ISU-122 (2)

ISU-152 (4)

3rd Generation Armoured Personnel Carriers 

Varta 250x

Kozak 70x 

Kozak-2 240x 

VARAN 2x 

Cobra 90x 

Cougar 105x 

Dozor-B 120x 

Spartan 50x 

Raptor 63x 

Shrek 117x 

BTR-7 60x 

BTR-80M 16x 

BTR-60M 23x

BTR-60XM 1x 

MT-LB-SM 8x

2nd Generation Armoured Personnel Carriers 

BTR-80 395x

BTR-70 857x

BTR-60 136x (640)

BTR-50 (500)

BTR-D 30x 

MT-LBu 225x 

MT-LB 4,700x (500) 

1st Generation Armoured Personnel Carriers 

BTR-152 (60)

BTR-40 (110)

Infantry Mobility Vehicles 

Novator 600x 

M1097 HMMWV 340x 

Bars-8 80x 

3rd Generation ATGM Carriers 

Novator-AT 80x 

Varta-AT 24x 

Spartan Skif 30x

Barrier-S 8x 

2nd Generation ATGM Carriers 

9P149 50x

9P148 30x

4th Generation Multiple Launch Rocket Systems 

Vilkha 100x GMLRS 

Bureviy 20x

Berest 3x

Bastion-1 20x

Bastion-2 30x

Bastion-3 1x

Verba 38x

3rd Generation Multiple Launch Rocket Systems 

BM-30 94x GMLRS 

2nd Generation Multiple Launch Rocket Systems 

BM-21 232x (170)

BM-27 130x (70)

MT-LB-S8 40x 

1st Generation Multiple Launch Rocket Systems 

RPU-14 (280)

BM-13 (10)

BM-14 (30)

BM-16 (10)

BM-24 (20)

Unguided Rocket Launchers 

9K52 Luna-M (62)

4th Generation Short Range Ballistic Missile Launchers 

1KR1 Sapsan 4x

3rd Generation Medium Range Ballistic Missile Launchers 

OTR-21B 90x

4th Generation Short Range Cruise Missile Launchers 

R-360 Neptune 32x

Korshun-2 1x 

 

4th Generation Self Propelled Artillery Guns 

2S22 Bohdana 95x

3rd Generation Self Propelled Artillery Guns 

2S19 Msta-S 40x

2S3M1 Akatsiya-M1 496x

2nd Generation Self Propelled Artillery Guns 

2S1 Gvozdika 600x

2S5 Giatsint-S 24x

2S7 Pion 99x 

2nd Generation Self Propelled Mortar Carriers 

2S9 70x

2S17-2 5x

1st Generation Self Propelled Mortar Carriers 

2S12 318x

Heavy Mortars 

MP-120 40x 

M120-15 Molot 100x 

M-240 80x 

M-160 (30)

MT-13 (60)

120-PM-43 30x 

2B11 62x 

2nd Generation Towed Artillery Guns 

2A18 443x

2A36 289x

2A65 185x

1st Generation Towed Artillery Guns 

D-74 (70)

D-20 216x (300)

D-44 205x

D-1 29x (270)

M-46 15x (90)

M-30 240x (520)

ML-20 65x (40)

M-10 (30)

ZiS-3 (120)

3rd Generation Towed Anti Tank Guns 

2A29R 100x

2nd Generation Towed Anti Tank Guns 

2A29 250x

2A19 250x

1st Generation Towed Anti Tank Guns 

SPG-9M 600x (1400)

B-11 (300)

D-48 320x

BS-3 200x (500)

ZiS-2 (200)

 

3rd Generation Long Range Area Defence Systems

S-300PT 468x (600) / 100× 3rd Gen MRs 

S-300PS 132x

S-300V1 24x 

2nd Generation Very Long Range Area Defence Systems

S-200 (324) 

3rd Generation Medium Range Area Defence Systems

S-125-2D 8x

Buk-M1 72x

2nd Generation Medium Range Area Defence Systems 

Kurg-M2 (100)

2nd Generation Short Range Area Defence Systems

S-125M1 (240)

S-75M1 (462)

Kub-M1 (81)

3rd Generation Point Defence Systems 

Tor-M 18x

2nd Generation Point Defence Systems 

Osa-AKM 125x

Strela-10M3 150x

1st Generation Point Defence Systems 

Strela-1M 24x (180)

 

4th Generation Self Propelled Anti Aircraft Guns 

ZSU-23-4M-A1 40x

Tunguska ZGRK 9x 3rd Gen PD 

3rd Generation Self Propelled Anti Aircraft Guns 

Tunguska 75x 3rd Gen PD

Donets 8x 

2nd Generation Self Propelled Anti Aircraft Guns 

ZSU-23-4M3 200x (300)

1st Generation Self Propelled Anti Aircraft Guns 

ZSU-57-2 (60)

5th Generation Towed Anti Aircraft Guns 

ARM-28 3x

3rd Generation Towed Anti Aircraft Guns 

ZU-23-2 500x (3000)

AZP-57 400x (200)

KS-19M2 (100)

2nd Generation Towed Anti Aircraft Guns 

ZPU 4000x

M75 400x

M55 1000x

3rd Generation Electronic Warfare Systems 

R-330UM 8x

Hecate 2x 

Enclave 4x

2nd Generation Electronic Warfare Systems 

R-330 52x

R-330B 6x 

R-330P 2x 

3rd Generation Anti Aircraft Electronic Warfare Systems 

Prometheus-MF5 3x

Mandat-B1E 4x 

Dandelion-100 10x

R-381TM Taran-M 7x 

Kolchuga-M 8x 

2nd Generation Anti Aircraft Electronic Warfare Systems 

1L245 20x

Kolchuga 18x

4th Generation Mobile Acquisition Radar Systems 

P-18C 46x

MR-18 28x

36D6M 14x 

90K6 6x 

79K6 10x

80K6KS1E 20x

L1300 4x 

3rd Generation Mobile Acquisition Radar Systems 

Nebo-SV 6x 

ST-67 64x

P-37 60x

P-19 50x (100)

P-18 60x (100)

2nd Generation Mobile Acquisition Radar Systems 

P-15 (100)

P-14 40x (80)

P-12 (200)

3rd Generation Counter Battery Systems 

Zoopark-3 1x 

Zoopark-2 4x

Polozhennya-2 1x

2nd Generation Counter Battery Systems 

Zoopark-1 10x

ARK-1 10x 

AN/TPQ-48 54x 

1st Generation Counter Battery Systems 

SNAR-1 230x

SNAR-10 30x

4th Generation Reconnaissance Vehicles

Triton-JEB 60x 

3rd Generation Reconnaissance Vehicles 

PRP-4 2x 

2nd Generation Reconnaissance Vehicles 

PRP-3 18x 

1st Generation Reconnaissance Vehicles 

BRDM-1 (120)

BRDM-2 200x (300)

BRDM-2SMD 44x 

Anti Drone Systems 

Bukovel-AD 48x

Enclave-Malyuk 40x 

Note 50x 

Recovery Vehicles 

BTS-4 20x 

BREM-1 38x 

BREM-2 50x 

BREM-4K 1x 

MT-T Aeneas 6x 

Diggers, Trenchers and Cranes 

IMR-2 68x 

MDK-3 31x 

PZM-3 5x 

KS-3577 12x 

Amphibious Transport Vehicles 

PTS-1 168x (380)

Utility Vehicles 

UAZ-469 4,000x

UAZ-452 12,000x 

Bogdan-2351 200x 

Cargo Trucks 

GAZ-3308 300x 

GAZ-66 30,000x 

KrAZ-255B 1,000x 

KrAZ-260 2,000x 

KrAZ-214B 100x 

KrAZ-5401 30x 

Minelayers 

GMZ-3 60x 

Minesweepers 

UR-77 31x

Bridging Vehicles 

MTU-12 200x

MTU-72 26x

MTU-55 132x

TMM-3 14x

Ammunition and Reloading Vehicles 

BMP-1PO 20x

Smoke Generators

TDA-2K 10x

Decontamination Vehicles 

TMS-65 14x 

Mobile Satellite Communication Systems 

R-410 50x 

Command and Control Level 4 Vehicles  

Kushetka-B 2x 

MP95 4x 

MP21-25 2x 

Command and Control Level 3 Vehicles 

BTR-3KSH 10x 

BTR-70DI-02 6x 

Command and Control Level 2 Vehicles 

BMP-1KSh 40x

BTR-70K 50x

1st Generation Man Portable Air Defence Systems

Strela-2M (5000)

2nd Generation Man Portable Air Defence Systems

Strela-3 (7000)

3rd Generation Man Portable Air Defence Systems

Igla 10,000x

4th Generation Anti Tank Guided Missile Launchers 

Stugna-P 1000x

Javelin E 47x 

3rd Generation Anti Tank Guided Missile Launchers 

Corsar 2000x

Shaker 600x

2nd Generation Anti Tank Guided Missile Launchers 

Metis 10,000x

Fagot-M1 70,000x

5th Generation Attack Aircraft 

Su-25M1 10x

Su-25M1K 12x 

Mi-8MSB-V 20x 

4th Generation Attack Aircraft

Su-25 50x 

Su-24M 71x (30) 

Su-17M3 3x (10)

MiG-27M (20)

Mi-24PU-1 28x 

Mi-24D 139x 

Mi-24V 19x

Mi-24P 38x 

Ka-29TB 1x

3rd Generation Attack Aircraft 

Mi-8TVK 59x 

Mi-8TV 60x 

2nd Generation Fighter Jets

L-39C 114x (100)

3rd Generation Fighter Jets 

MiG-23ML (96)

MiG-25PD (50) 

Su-15TM (65) 

4th Generation Fighters Jets

MiG-29A 90x (70) 

MiG-29UB 8x 

MiG-29UM1 8x

Su-27S 55x (20) 

L-39M1 6x

3rd Generation Reconnaissance Aircraft 

Mi-24K 5x (20)

2nd Generation Reconnaissance Aircraft

An-30B 3x

3rd Generation Electronic Countermeasure Aircraft 

Mi-8MTPB 13x

Mi-8MTPI 8x 

2nd Generation Electronic Countermeasure Aircraft 

Yak-28PP (25)

An-12PP (2)

3rd Generation Anti Submarine Warfare Aircraft

Mi-14PLM 42x

Ka-27PL 4x

2nd Generation Anti Submarine Warfare Aircraft 

Be-12PS 10x (7)

Ka-25PL 28x

Tu-142 (2)

2nd Generation Airborne Ground Surveillance and Control Aircraft 

Su-24MR 29x (3rd Generation ECM Aircraft) 

MiG-25RBK (4)

2nd Generation Airborne Early Warning And Control Aircraft 

An-71 (1)

CC2 Aircraft 

Mi-9 4x

1st Generation Helicopters

Mi-6 2x (32)

Mi-4 (35)

Mi-2 (30)

Mi-1 (26)

2nd Generation Helicopters

Mi-8 55x (200)

3rd Generation Helicopters

Mi-2MSB 12x 

Mi-17 65x

Mi-26 2x (20)

Ka-32A11BC 6x

Bo-150E4 2x

4th Generation Helicopters

Ka-226 1x

AS350 2x

H225M 4x

2nd Generation Transport Planes 

An-2 (52)

An-8T 1x (6)

3rd Generation Transport Planes 

An-24 38x 

An-12 14x (51)

4th Generation Transport Planes 

IL-76 63x (28)

An-26 62x (8)

An-32 47x 

An-70 1x 

An-72 5x 

An-74 1x 

An-2-100 3x 

5th Generation Transport Planes 

An-225 1x 

An-178 1x 

An-132D 1x 

2nd Generation Supersonic Strategic Bombers 

Tu-22M3 (2)

1st Generation Supersonic Strategic Bombers 

Tu-22M (2)

Tu-22K (1)

2nd Generation Strategic Bombers 

Tu-16K-26 (13)

Aerial Refuelling Tankers 

IL-78 (12)

Unmanned Aerial Reconnaissance Vehicles

PD-2 20x

Sych 2x

Shark 14x

Tu-141 140x

Tu-143 110x

(Much of navy was taken in 2014)

Amphibious Ships

Polnocny Class Landing Ship 1x

Ropucha class Landing Ship 1x

Frigates

Krivak-class ASW Frigate 1x

Corvettes

Grisha-class ASW Corvettes 3x

Pauk-class ASW Corvettes 2x

Tarantul-class Anti Ship Corvettes 2x

Fast Attack Craft 

Matka-class Anti Ship Boat 2x

Shelon Class Gun Boat 1x

Gyurza-M class GunBoats 8x

Mine Ships

Bereza Class Minelayer 1x

Yevgenya class Minesweeper 1x

Natya class Minesweepers 2x

Sonya class Minesweepers 2x

T43 Class Minesweeper 1x

Electronic Warfare Ships

Moma Class Surveillance Ship 1x

Bambuk Class Surveillance Ship 1x

Amur Class Surveillance Ship 1x

Submarines

Foxtrot class Attack Submarine 1x

Part 3: The Air Situation in Ukraine 

I often here two questions. 

"Why didn't Russia desert storm Ukraine" 

They did. As explained at the start, they quickly attained air superiority and quickly reach Kiev, Ukraine sued fir peace then betrayed Russia. 

"Why doesn't Russia have air superiority" 

They do, as explained Russia like the coalition during the gulf war quickly attained air superiority, but the difference is gaining air supremacy against a country like Ukraine is a completely different story compared to gaining air supremacy against a country like Iraq. 

What does "respected" western military analysis groups say about the air situation in Ukraine? 

.https://kyivindependent.com/isw-52/

https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/military-balance/2025/02/ukraines-ground-based-air-defence-evolution-resilience-and-pressure/

https://www.iiss.org/online-analysis/military-balance/2024/02/moscows-aerospace-forces-no-air-of-superiority/

In 2024 and 2025 according to them The air situation in Ukraine in still air parity and has been from the start (to those who have done the research I am being 100% serious, that is what they claim) 

According to these morons both Russia and Ukraine are fully capable of launching similar air operations against each other with a similar intensity. 

I am going to destroy this moronic, laughable notion. 

Russia has enjoyed air superiority since the opening days, since the beginning within the opening hours of the invasion Russian aviation neutralized Ukrainian IADS in the north, this is how Russian aviation enjoyed free reign over much of the North. 

After they withdrew during the spring and early summer Russia enjoyed favourable air situation throughout the donbas regions, until mid 2023 after serious SEAD/DEAD, intensification of aviation use combined with Ukraine running low on S-300 missiles allowed Russia to gain air superiority by the time Bakhmut was captured. 

First I will go over Ukrainian air defence capabilities as there seems to be a common delusion that Iraq was somehow not just comparable to Ukraine air defence wise but actually more capable. 

Sheer delusion, is too kind a word for these statements. 

 Ukraine had some of the best air defence capabilities in Europe. They had an integrated area defence network that consisted of hundreds of S-300Ps with various clustered point defence networks protecting the S-300Ps made up of Buks, Osas, Tors, Strela-10s, Strela-2s, Strela-3s and iglas along with enough S-300V missile defence systems to protect each of its major cities.

For comparison Iraq didn't even have a proper area defence system and was mostly VSHORADs and SHORADs and their systems were 2 ⁄ 3 completely obsolete being early command guidance and tail chasers. Whereas Ukraines air defence systems whilst mostly outdated were not obsolete and largely used improved command guidance, radar homing or all aspect tracking with full scanning. Iraqi air defence networks were very isolated as well being set up in clusters whereas Ukraine used an integrated S-300P network that has several command hubs that can coordinate each division then regiment then battery.

Ukraine had a soviet style air defence network. 

Ukraine operated a soviet style C2 network known as the Virazh IADS. 

The main hub is the Anti-Air Defence Missile Artillery of the Ukrainian Air Force in Kiev (AADMA-AF), they controlled the entire system. 

The AADMA-AF IADS was broken up into 4 regions known as air command areas each AC was made up of command & control centers known as oreanda hubs that controlled the ground and air based air defence regiments, there was a total of 10+ oreanda Hubs with over 40 individual air & ground based air defence regiments, Radar regiments and EW regiments and over 200 batteries. The regions targeting data from each ACC2 hub is all controlled and analysed by the AADMA-AF in Kiev each air command zone can track up to 1000 targets and prioritise 300 with up to 4000 max tracked and 1200 priority tracking 

Each SAM battery was connected to a C2 hub  connected to a larger regimental hub like with regimental hub connected to a Oreanda ACC2 hub. There was over 300 battery hubs and 30 regimental hubs. 

Each area defence battery was protected by a ground based EW asset. 

After break up of USSR Ukraine had over 1000 early warning and engagement radars by the 2000s only around 800 were kept. By 2022 There was over 250 PESA or digital systems with over 150 older VHF, S and L band early warning radars in service with hundreds in storage. There is also over 140 EW assets. 

The Oreanda ACC2 hubs were modernised to utilise sophisticated LCD displays and satellite communications, the base battery C2 hubs models all utilised secure digital data links to transfer data between batteries, this not only allowed each battery to share data but allowed the controlling hub to operate the batteries SAMs using their radars similarly if the batteries radar is destroyed it can use firing data from other aircraft or ground radars to engage targets, each ground based system was also paired with aircraft Interceptors made up of Su-27s, each air command AADMA-AF IADS control. These ACC2 hubs could effectively track and utilise 

High flying aircraft 

Ballistic Missiles 

ECCM integration to counter ECM signals 

By 2020 Ukraine had fully modernised there systems and Ukraine's system was an interconnected system all controlled by the AADMA-AF in Kiev. They had enough radars to cover the entire country 100× over, an example of how it was set up in event of attack. 

Virazh IADS 

Command and Control Centers 

4× Air command zones 

16× ACC2 C2 hubs 

32× Regimental C2 hubs 

324× Battery C2 hubs 

Equipment Batteries 

21× Anti Aircraft EW batteries 

19× Anti UAV EW batteries 

80× Early warning radar batteries 

12× Acquisition Radar batteries 

158× Air defence Batteries 

83× SPAAG batteries 

150× AA gun batteries 

Aircraft Squads 

41× Squads of fighters 

14× Squads of Recon Aircraft 

5× Squads of EW Aircraft 

50× Squads of recon UAVs 

Air Command Zones 

● 4× ACC2 C2 hubs 

● 1× Kolchuga-M or R-381TM Taran-M EW batteries 

● 1× P-14, ST-67, 80K6KS1E, 90K6 or 79K6 early warning radar batteries 

● 10× Squads of Su-27s or MiG-29s 

● 1× Squad of Su-24MRs, An-30B or Be-12PSs

● 1× Squad of Mi-8MTPB or Mi-8MTPI

● 1× S-300V Battery 

Oreanda ACC2 C2 Hub 

● 2× 5S99 regimental control hubs 

● 1× Tungaska or ZSU-23-4 batteries 

● 4× S-300P Batteries or 4× Buk batteries 

● 1× Prometheus-MF5, Mandat-B1E or Dandelion-100 short range EW battery 

● 4× Osa, Strela or Tor batteries 

● 3× Squads of Tu-141 or Tu-143 reconnaissance UAVs 

● 4× Bukovel-AD or Enclave-Malyuk Anti drone batteries 

● 4× Nebo-SV, P-18, P-18C, MR-18 or L1300 early warning radar batteries 

S-300P Battery 

● 1× 54K6 battery control hub 

● 1× 30N6 acquisition radar

● 1× 36D6 engagement radar

● 1× 1L245 Point Defence EW System 

● 1× Tungaska or ZSU-23-4 batteries 

● 2× AZP-57 or ZU-23-2 batteries 

● 6× 5P85D TELs each with 4× 5V55U or 5V55KD SAMs with a 90 to 150 km engagement range with 6× 5P85T TELs in reserve

S-300V Battery 

● 1× 9S32 engagement radar 

● 1× 9S15 acquisition radar 

● 1× 9S457-1 battery control hub 

● 6× 9A83-1 TELs each with 4× 9M83 ABMs with a 75 km range 

Buk Battery 

● 1× 9S470 battery control hub 

● 1× 9S35 Engagement radar 

● 1× P-19 acquisition radar 

● 3× 9K37M1 TELs with 4× 9M317 SAMs with a 30 km range. 

Osa, Tor and Strela-10 Battery 

● 1× 1S51M3-2, 9S16 or 9S737 Engagement radars 

● 1× P-19 acquisition radar

● 1× 9S80 or 9S737 Battery control hubs

● 4× 9P35M2 TELs with 6× 9M33M3 SAMs with a 15 km range or 4× 9A35M3-K TELs with 4× 9M37M SAMs with a 5 km range or 4× 9A330 TELs with 8× 9M330 SAMs with a 12 km range 

● 4× AZP-57 or ZU-23-2 batteries 

Each battery is protected by point defence systems and are covered by mobile search radars with main area defence protected by  EW Systems. The point defence systems are themselves protected by over modern AA guns aided by older systems and protected by hundreds of anti drone system. 

For air based assets the PSZSU utilises 160+ Su-27Ss and MiG-29As used as the primary Interceptors and air defence Fighters. Ground based air defence can be coordinated by a handful of Mi-9s and enemy ground targets can be Intercepted by Su-24MR AGS Aircraft and air based EW can be done by Mi-8MTPB, Mi-8MTPI and Su-24MR. All information is exchanged between aircraft by TKS-2 legacy fully encrypted digital TDLs or Ukrainian modernised versions. 

Also need to remember that Ukraine has access to NATO country E-3s and Saab 340s AEW&Cs in black Sea and Europe that are used to spy on Russian aircraft along with NATO spy satellites. 

2022 Air Defence Stats 

Long Range SAMs 2,496

Medium Range SAMs 312

Point Defence SAMs 2,312 

Manpad SAMs 10,000

Anti Aircraft Rounds 10,494

Fighter Coverage 18,686,890,000 km²

AA Gun Coverage 750,102,544 km²

Area Defence Coverage 73,359,225 km²

Point Defence Coverage 404,496 km²

Manpad Coverage 2,775,556 km²

Radar Coverage 35,842,062,400 km²

Ground ECM Coverage 3,014,010,000 km²

Air ECM Coverage 176,890,000 km²

Ukraine 603,628 km² (536,225 km² actual by 2022) 

Numbers 

Air Defence Systems 1,086

Anti Aircraft Guns 5,600

SPAAGs 332

Manpads 10,000 

Radars 460

ECM Systems 146

ECM fighters 29 

ELINIT aircraft 21 

Recon Aircraft 8 

Fighters 167 (plus 114 light attackers) 

To give context 10 km coverage equals 100 km². The radars cover a total of 35,840,000,000 km² lol. This means they have enough assets to cover the entire country multiple times over, this applies to all. 

Iraq 1991

Capabilities 

Short Range SAMs 1,241

Point Defence SAMs 3,042

Manpad SAMs 9,300

Anti Aircraft Gun Rounds 17,314

Fighter Coverage 284,400 km

AA Gun Coverage 36,500 km

SAM Coverage 27,110 km

Manpad Coverage 56,950 km

Radar Coverage 89,000 km

Landmass 438,317 km

Numbers 

Air Defence Systems 1,309

Anti Aircraft Guns 8,000

SPAAGs 500

Manpads 9,300

Radars 520

AEW&C 2

Recon Aircraft 9

Fighters 597 

Iran 2026 

Numbers

4th Gen VLR SAM Launchers 36

4th Gen LR SAM Launchers 12

3rd Gen LR SAM Launchers 271

3rd Gen MR SAM Launchers 270

3rd Gen Point Defence Systems 282

5th Gen Towed AA Guns 300

3rd Gen Towed AA Guns 1,000

2nd Gen Towed AA Guns 3,000

2nd Gen SPAAGs 100 

1st Gen SPAAGs 80

3rd Gen Manpads 1000

2nd Gen Manpads 2000

2nd Gen Radars 220

3rd Gen Radars 145

4th Gen Radars 38

3rd Gen AA EW Systems 9

3rd Gen Fighters 174

4th Gen Fighters 91

4+ Gen Fighters 1

2nd Gen EW Aircraft 1

Capabilities 

Air Defence Systems 871

Manpads 11,000

Very Long Range SAMs 144

Long Range SAMs 584

Medium Range SAMs 906 

Point Defence SAMs 842

Manpad SAMs 3000

Anti Aircraft Gun Rounds 13,455

Radar Coverage 11,919,180,625 km²

Area Defence Coverage 57,244,356 km²

Point Defence Coverage 2,832,489 km²

Ground Based EW Coverage 29,160,000 km²

Fighter Jet Coverage 25,408,360,000 km²

Again basically full coverage. 

Numbers alone don't tell everything. 

Iraq never had a proper long range area defence system, only had older 50s search radars along with older 60s SAMs that use rear aspect tracking or older command guidance or CW SARH seekers with no real C2 integration between batteries along with obsolete aircraft. 

60% of their SAMs were Point Defence so classed as active defence with remaining 40% being short range area defence systems, they had lots of AA Guns however and had many Interceptors. They had a good number of ground based search radars as well although all obsolete. 

Iraq utilised a very basic C2 structure, it was called Kari and was an ad hoc system added to iraqi air defence in the 80s by thomson-CSF france. It separated the SAMs into intercept operations centers (IOC) which where organised onto sector operations centers (SOC) all of which is coordinated by air defense operations center in Baghdad (ADOC). 

It was an impressive system if it was made 4 decades prior, it wasn't even comparable to the Soviets Uragan or US SAGE developed in the 50s, 

All in all the Kari system consisted of around 1300 SAMs, 500 early warning and engagement radars with around 300 aircraft Interceptors. 

Sounds good ?

Major issues were 

1. Air Interceptors relied on unsecured GCI which was mostly done by manual unsecured analogue radio line not data link. So easily jammable and easily intercepted 

2. Aircraft had no peer to peer data links 

3. Ground SAMs relied on telephone connection between radars and batteries 

4. Main hub still largely utilised analogue mission control displays with physical map interfaces. (Uragan and SAGE used computer interfaces) 

5. All information exchanged was unencrypted. 

6. Iraqs SAMs were horrifically obsolete, their main system was the 50+ S-75 and S-125 batteries with over 400 systems. S-75 had no ECCM so could be jammed with any aircraft with even basic ECM jammers and S-125 had rudimentary ECCM so could be jammed by any 70s ECM and they had no back up Optics. Most of their SAMs were SHORADS like Roland, Strela-1, Strela-10 and Osa whilst they had no ground based EW assets and their aircraft Interceptors were made up of obsolete MiG-21s, MiG-25s and MiG-23s with only around 100 Mirage F1 and MiG-29A-12B pure Fighters, most of their area defence systems were also deployed in Iraq meaning their defence outside was incredibly limited. 

7. SAMs information display were connected to IOCs by telephone not data link and had no proper integrated data sharing abilities, if you destroyed an SOC (makeshift regimental C2 hub) you take out all the assets it controlled, however there was a very basic radar data fusion installed (introduced for 70s air defence) that allowed say data from a P-12 in battery X connected to IOC Y to share aircraft targeting data to a P-12 or P-15 used by battery Z connected to IOC Y. Iraq had no proper SAM regimental hubs and very few battery hubs to coordinate its batteries so it created IOCs and SOCs to fill the gap, each SOC could control up to 5 IOCs and track 20 to 40 aerial targets with over 100 to 150 total tracked by the ADOC in Baghdad, since the system only added on a basic C2 structure on to older SAMs and radars it had no priority tracking, poor ECCM protection and very poor Missile tracking. 

8. Aircraft had no secure IFF 

Not to give Iraq too hard a time, you need to remember this system was made to counter iran not the huge air power that the coalition utilised. 

(I'm being generous here as some sources say the entire system could only track 40 max)

I mean literally Listen to Iraqi air defence operators, their network was COMPLETELY shut down by ECM alone, they lacked any sort of air defence night vision capabilities (70-80s tech stuff that was added to all soviet air defence systems) worse is how this proves their radars had little to no ECCM (60-70s tech stuff) this was because their main area defence SAMs were export Kubs, S-75s and S-125 that had no ECCM and all were using older P series of search radars (P-5 to P-15) for primary detection and even older WWII ERA stuff for back ups and yet again they had no fighters to utilise probably because most had radars fried so where useless.  

https://t.me/btvt2019/9260

The fact people genuinely try to say Iraq even had a fraction of a modern military is absolutely hilarious. 

Russia managed to achieve something like this in the northern area of Ukraine (granted it was by far the weakest and had a fraction of ground based EW and SAMs than donbas had) but still that's incredibly impressive, similarly when they easily secured Georgian airspace around South ossetia. Granted it wasn't as proficient as gulf war because unlike Iraq Ukraine actually had a modern IADS for the time period.  

This system has been severely weakened with Russia destroying or capturing several ACC2 hubs that coordinate the IADS allowing Russian VKS to total localized air superiority in the regions. 

S-300 battery is the main component of Ukraines IADS 

Modern mobile early warning radars

Older systems 

Ground based EW assets for air defence 

Each air defence system has a battery C2 hub 

Connected to larger division hubs 

All coordinated by Anti-Air Defence Missile Artillery of the Ukrainian Air Force in Kiev 

If russia went all in with its air force in 2022 to achieve ait supremacy they would have lost a lot of aircraft, it's also different doctrines, soviet Doctrine post Vietnam dictated localized air superiority to support armoured pushes, we seen this in georgia and the initial invasion stages in Ukraine whilst US Doctrine focuses on establishing full air supremacy first as seen in Iraq where Iraqi air defence was neutralised to the point of being incapable of any effective interference. 

Air Superiority and NATO Definitions 

First we will go over NATOs definitions.

Level 1

Air supremacy is the highest level, where a side holds complete control of the skies. It is defined by NATO and the United States Department of Defense as the "degree of air superiority wherein the opposing air force is incapable of effective interference". 

Level 2

Air superiority is the second level, where a side is in a more favourable position than the opponent. It is defined in the NATO glossary as the "degree of dominance in air battle ... that permits the conduct of operations and its related land, sea and air forces at a given time and place without prohibitive interference by opposing air forces." 

Level 3

A Favourable air situation is defined as "an air situation in which the extent of air effort applied by the enemy air forces is insufficient to prejudice the success of friendly land, sea or air operations." 

Level 4

Air parity is the lowest level of control, where no side holds any level of control of skies. 

What do these mean though ? 

Level 1 Air Supremacy 

Total control of the battlespace, can conduct air operations with no threat to success whilst enemy air defence is completely neutralized and enemy can't conduct aerial attacks. 

Level 2 Air Superiority 

Localised control of the battlespace, air forces can fly across active engagement zones with no prohibitive interference to air power from enemy air defence (meaning aircraft can fly over frontlines and not lose so many aircraft ,if any, to cause a reduction in overall air operations or reduce their effectiveness), furthermore ground and sea asset operations are not prohibited by enemy air power, whilst enemy air power ability to engage in operations is severely reduced compared to your forces (they fly much much less sorties, have higher loss per sortie ratio, they can't conduct air operations like you do and are prohibited from flying around most active engagement zones due to your air defence capabilities and their ground and sea assets are regularly prohibited from engaging in operations due to your air power) it also means you utilise your air power to support advances by your ground or naval forces and that you can utilise your air based assets far more effectively than the opponent. 

Level 3 Favourable Air Conditions 

Overall both sides are pretty equal but your side has better abilities, for example you lose less aircraft per sortie, you can fly over some engagement zones with higher success rates and enemy air defence is unlikely to cause problems. Their ground assets have no interference from your air power and their air assets have no prohibitive interference from your air defence. 

Level 4 Air Parity 

No side has any benefits and both fully equal and capable of doing same air operations with equal levels of air defence. 

In the end these are made up definitions that have no objective validity. For example western analysts will claim US had air superiority in Vietnam and iran but say russia has air parity in Ukraine. 

Why does Russia have air superiority? 

Let's go over some articles about the 2023 counter offensive, since a big factor for air parity (What propaganda western military think tanks claim the air situation is) is both sides being able to do similar air ops as no side has any control whatsoever, So we should see two scenarios. 

1. Both sides utilising air support to the same or similar effect. 

2. No side utilising air support. 

Ukraine is attacking without air support

https://www.twz.com/russia-has-destroyed-its-first-ukrainian-bradley-fighting-vehicles 

as the military experts had warned, were not a solution on their own. Without air superiority in the skies above and overwhelming artillery support, they were vulnerable to Russian anti-tank missiles fired from the trenches and from gunships able to strike them over the horizon

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/02/ukraine-counter-offensive-russia-war 

Conditions were especially unfavourable given the lack of air support

So far the Russian approach to defending their lines in the south appears to have worked relatively well, with the Ukrainians losing mine-clearing tanks and other armor that have become prey to artillery and aerial attack as they try to break through. Available open-source video suggests high use of anti-tank munitions is taking a toll on Ukrainian front-line units

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://static.rusi.org/lessons-learned-ukraine-offensive-2022-23.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi9kL38iomOAxWAXUEAHcxMOxAQFnoFCIABEAE&usg=AOvVaw1Ik4qFydWsUN06E9HM7jig 

Smoking gun right here. 

A senior Ukrainian officer acknowledged to CNN Friday that Russian air strikes and artillery were making it hard to advance

“Their aviation works in waves, as it was in Vietnam, Afghanistan. Continuously, all day long, they work either by helicopters or by airplanes and they work all day,” a deputy battalion commander with the Separate Territorial Defense Brigade told a CNN team near Zaporizhzhya

He also underlined Ukraine’s lack of aerial assets

“Aviation support is sorely lacking,” he said

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/06/17/europe/ukraine-counteroffensive-explained-hnk-intl 

Besides, dislodging the defenders from their entrenched positions required air superiority over the battlefield, along with effective close air support against advancing columns. It provides maneuverability to the assault troops to engage the enemy and remain secure from the enemy’s air power components. Ukraine's assault forces lacked both, restricting their advance. They did not get air superiority or close air support rather they were continuously attacked from the sky because the Ukraine air force didn’t have the firepower to challenge the incoming planes and attack helicopters. Likewise, Russian K-52 attack helicopters significantly damaged Ukraine’s armored vehicles and hindered their advance. This demonstrates that Ukraine was at a disadvantage from the very beginning of the operation.

https://www.realcleardefense.com/articles/2023/08/22/why_is_ukraines_counteroffensive_destined_to_fail_974465.html 

You're probably thinking what's my point with these ?. 

According to the mainstream military analysis "experts" the air situation in Ukraine is at air parity and has never changed. 

Air parity means no side has any advantage and both are at equal level both able to do similar levels of operations. 

So how is russia able to provide air support for their defending troops yet Ukraine isn't? That's not parity. Not only that Ukraine couldn't even effectively utilise stand off weapons to any effect meanwhile Russian Attack Aircraft flew over direct frontlines. 

Like as you've read Ukrainian commanders even admitted that they have a lack of air power and Russian aviation pounds them daily. 

It's almost as if one side had a degree of dominance in the air, and their air and ground operations weren't prohibited by their enemies air defence meanwhile their enemies air power and ground forces were prohibited. 

It's almost as if one side has a degree of localized superiority. 

Another indicator of air superiority is being able to utilise air based military assets that, in this case, your enemy can't. Missiles being the one here. 

Here we have numerous major Missile attacks all over Ukraine targeting energy facilities, military installations, intelligence facilities etc. 

2023 

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/12/29/europe/ukraine-russia-airstrikes-intl-hnk/index.html 

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-launches-massive-air-attack-ukraine-least-10-dead-kyiv-2023-12-29/ 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/29_December_2023_Russian_strikes_on_Ukraine 

https://amp.theguardian.com/world/2023/dec/29/russia-launches-huge-wave-missile-strikes-ukraine 

2024 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/11/17/russia-launches-massive-attack-on-ukraines-energy-infrastructure 

https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20241117-russia-launches-massive-drone-missile-attack-targeting-ukraine-s-power-grid 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/17/russia-targets-ukraines-power-grid-in-biggest-missile-strike-in-months-officials-say 

2025 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/aug/28/russia-launches-kyiv-attack-ukraine-capital-deaths-injuries

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce3253gxqvwo

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/April_2025_Russian_attack_on_Kyiv 

Here we have the footage of countless Missile attacks all over Ukraine. 

https://youtube.com/shorts/ctP1vCILNVk?si=jy2XZpVPsSv_5q3T 

https://youtube.com/shorts/5V58345wm8Q?si=0hc5TDAy4Qfb4dg6 

https://youtube.com/shorts/sgPr4Ressxo?si=k8n7hBesftDTu-Oz 

https://youtu.be/amwrqCi1GCc?si=bSk-D4dtrTFHw0xy 

https://youtube.com/shorts/rMqneYdl8oo?si=w5Y00wjnzE5kIfTO 

https://youtube.com/shorts/RmaD5k6idTk?si=xNPZ9NQ-PqJ1AXcj 

https://youtube.com/shorts/9ZvJKt5T0Ds?si=2XQHXTNJNTD44nfQ 

https://youtube.com/shorts/VJhFJKoNzYM?si=5ec9CBak_Ykocug1 

https://youtube.com/shorts/rMqneYdl8oo?si=ZTnOl-mC2d3QRhTr 

https://youtube.com/shorts/9ZvJKt5T0Ds?si=-qzPQ7Ul3RPisXeX 

https://youtu.be/HzFcNB_47j0?si=9Gz-1ovCysazhFDB 

https://youtube.com/shorts/Jege2wKpbLA?si=igqIW2tpuAbrXTEg 

https://youtu.be/RH-NvKLrUvo?si=g9Qrt_tO0eKISdgD 

https://youtube.com/shorts/amwrqCi1GCc?si=LIppLrQ14lYY1M3T

https://youtube.com/shorts/FkMZ0m4wYfI?si=eksp7FiBuaRxTk8E 

https://youtube.com/shorts/GEhFtwb31Gg?si=skhIQfjHsLvT51Ec

Ukraine has to rely on low flying drones for attacks against Russia because russian IADS will easily shoot down missiles, sometimes Tochkas, Neptunes or ATACMS get through but these are few and far between, there's also little evidence that they were used to begin with (vs countless videos of russian missiles) combined with far far far less intensity. 

Lastly we have aircraft. Russian aircraft can freely fly over active engagement zones with little threat to operations, meanwhile Ukrainian aircraft must use stand off Munitions to even have a chance at much reduced rates aswell. 

2026 

https://youtu.be/eBbMfOEN9BA?si=fQDRVlX79sBwCnrx

https://youtu.be/Ld3NOBwTsHs?si=woEm8qhZYzoO_r_U

https://youtu.be/ng2U1OPZxjQ?si=lsezd_FS4jQjqfWA

https://youtube.com/shorts/dK592dDTXKg?si=0ydvK8ursowF5-sT

https://youtu.be/LRJWI2OaJ0I?si=qHygAZmWC8VzPTNR

2025

https://youtube.com/shorts/q_LM5P4l1CI?si=sS1CPKxUrhu47Lkk 

https://youtube.com/shorts/GWstVIxf9aY?si=M5BY5E6rtMQ_r0e-  

https://youtube.com/shorts/kUJ1HhkBqVc?si=xUZZgZmB42pgGozO

https://youtu.be/MMO2rPRkr0E?si=KVNRHUOPHIf3rotB 

https://youtu.be/vn39YRBIYTc?si=wg3c_wuzD_Jr1GIY

https://youtu.be/7cCPqpBbdYs?si=sGiaDbEd2V6GQJpU 

https://youtu.be/jnaD1fMnYS4?si=wIfJu3eyuOBPhXX2 

https://youtu.be/ahbibmQSgUU?si=750Q4plWnC06sDXB 

https://youtu.be/DezuZu1a0sc?si=NPR1R4F6LdKMsr9E 

https://youtu.be/N_wuC9gH2Dk?si=koVGB9c8liOBy3uB 

https://youtu.be/r1-WgGoEuoY?si=8Y9NPxW6_mQiG_yK

2024

https://youtube.com/shorts/XugI2DXdaT0?si=cSW4KNmaVoLM3Wll 

https://youtube.com/shorts/fEagG9Va3MQ?si=8NQ4Co0L0di2cigF 

https://youtube.com/shorts/FWYodyzyk3A?si=5QFyajtMc3YThooe 

https://youtu.be/PNmfEMB8ooo?si=XQUw4tZyKI_im7yN 

https://youtu.be/edIqnxCiwFo?si=QbbT5a0OOMZear64 

https://youtube.com/shorts/5MAWP50OdwU?si=UWLL4FdoW0RBAsR_ 

https://youtu.be/CrerY1uUpxo?si=2ixP4-JgetGnq6aA 

https://youtube.com/shorts/FWYodyzyk3A?si=qWeqFs7KaAmkttWI 

2023

https://youtu.be/6oKLYqZjUmQ?si=A-lcLAMJXzLZsBcA 

https://youtu.be/RFBqHd-znLQ?si=aJm6KAOitnk1IrO2 

https://youtu.be/DTNx9yKMOg4?si=lE4NKYQIsc4GaJGD 

https://youtu.be/F-YGhQYBO-I?si=5gBocQYPkbv7k6Ks 

https://youtu.be/QdJDErJo6NE?si=80pqLn1CW0YWsXar 

https://youtu.be/jJ9Q9fiwV3c?si=klBS5vK-DAbsvCtC 

https://youtu.be/0o15S7r4m_k?si=GjmIRXjJBqEkBc_x 

https://youtu.be/a2lck21QBYE?si=-shBZ8cKuilRFlBX 

https://youtu.be/xW2MeI8Ndbc?si=gUi_1qNu7-a4yQBR 

https://youtu.be/6i3-MmodX-8?si=hKKZzMynRqPP9N8M 

https://youtu.be/7y_M_wsEA4o?si=VJlumRyGKYRXiUZY 

https://youtu.be/TeJaruFu8ws?si=D-aoFMYt2JQ758Y3 

https://youtu.be/zn05ON-eFJM?si=5_yqCOv-LGjq-FnM 

https://youtu.be/Buf9sZ341L4?si=ZcIimhEd_qzBNvXe 

https://youtu.be/ZL5m0bWaRGk?si=COB4zbkjf790lmyj 

https://youtu.be/nS2T2cxLlyw?si=897uXmetdoz0h_KR 

2022

https://youtu.be/ATwkpH9mSqI?si=q0SLOYZUSolfh0Vz 

https://youtu.be/HqpUCaXviQc?si=aXfDP4TCrmcMSdAl 

https://youtu.be/HMEMLMBYCsw?si=3Y72FS8jis6o5kga 

https://youtu.be/ojA1dsC4TMM?si=vZcqMcVdB2NNrEpF 

https://youtu.be/v4_tq3ZfFzE?si=4aCCGNAHo3-NciTK 

https://youtu.be/W3yj-ZyrF4o?si=XhPkEhOu3uIG1zPQ 

https://youtu.be/JzJnYv7UOPE?si=L_i5fZD1JjPwA1jx 

https://youtu.be/a4GeYBScyGA?si=A0vXUDt0qmrJ3l0D 

https://youtu.be/nC_U-Qxub2k?si=MEvSVdchvtJTS3bR 

https://youtu.be/2fBMnAPYzaE?si=QkcCCeKulagr4FDG 

https://youtu.be/oLa3fZD1vXs?si=KIgpUE4J6qBupQPp 

Another indicator of air superiority is using your aviation to support ground or sea operations. 

Aviation used to make pushes on ground. I'll pick 5 from pro UA sources. 

Avdiivka in 2024, quote 

One Ukrainian brigade had defended the same block of industrial buildings for months without a break. Another had been in Avdiivka for nearly the entire two years of the war, bone-tired but with no replacements to relieve them.

Ammunition was low, and the Russians conducted dozens of airstrikes every day, using “glide bombs” to obliterate even fortified positions.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/ap-ukraine-mariupol-mountains-men-b2510459.html 

Bakhmut 2023

Talking about russias air force 

'do nothing to them in the air'

https://www.businessinsider.com/ukrainian-pilot-says-air-force-outclassed-by-russian-jets-report-2023-7

Pokrovsk 2024

"On June 10, there were 100 combat clashes reported. Russian forces conducted 62 airstrikes on Ukrainian troops' positions and settlements"

https://global.espreso.tv/military-news-russian-air-activity-intensifies-in-pokrovsk-sector

Toretsk 2025

"Russian attack aircraft are attempting daily advances into Toretsk"

https://english.nv.ua/nation/russian-forces-push-into-toretsk-daily-ukraine-reports-photos-50493735.html

Krnky 2024

"Russian warplanes relentlessly glide-bombed Ukrainian positions"

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/02/08/the-krynky-bridgehead-is-so-dangerous-that-to-signal-their-defiance-ukrainian-marines-sent-a-drone-to-plant-their-flag/

By NATO definition air superiority is defined by mainly two factors, a degree of dominance in the air and lack of prohibitive interference from enemy air forces. We have proven that they have it. 

So again. Russia has air superiority across the frontlines all where it fights and has near air supremacy in controlled areas with western Ukraine being favourable air conditions.

A Degree of dominance in the air

Russia has shown this, they launch far far more sorties, lose far far far less aircraft on average per sortie than Ukraine, their CAS Aircraft actually fly over the frontlines and direct battlespace whereas Ukraine HAS to use stand off firings such as flying extremely low and far away. Russian special type aircraft like AEW&C, Recon and AGS regularly fly across Russian controlled Ukraine. Ukrainian infrastructure is hit far more regularly with air launched bombs and missiles (vast majority of ukranian attacks are with small drones flying low).

When Battles are raging on there's always a noticeable lack of Ukraine air power because they don't have enough. Russia also actually utilised its air force to help offensives. 

Lack of prohibitive interference 

Russia has only lost around ~300 aircraft in nearly 3 years with an average loss from a low of 1 aircraft per ~1,130 sorties for a high of ~2,555 that's at a rate of ~150 to 400 sorties a day and a comparison this was around half the rate in Vietnam  which was 1 loss per ~577 sorties at a rate of 300 to 900 sorties per day on average. USA had air superiority in Vietnam. 

This is not enough to limit Russian aerial operations or reduce their effectiveness in any meaningful way. Russian land operations are not prohibited by Ukrainian air force in any way as again there have multiple battles in the past where russian forces were pretty much unbothered by AFUAF even recently in Vulehdar, Avdiivka and Novomykhalivka, the lack of effective Ukraine air support is very apparent. And lastly their naval forces are not prohibited by air forces at all because Ukraines air force never leaves land.

Further explanations

Let's go into individual areas. 

Majority of ukranian attacks from air are shot down, example Crimean Attack, 11 missiles fired 7 destroyed. 

Russia launches numerous sorties every single day all across Ukraine and the frontline, Ukrainian cities regularly get hit by missiles and bombs dropped by Russian Fighters inside Ukraine. From visuals, testimonials, russian doctrine and past wars, Russia launches on average every day around ~100-300 sorties across the frontlines with Attack Aircraft and UCAVs like Su-25s, Ka-52s, Mi-8AMTSh, Mi-24s, Mi-28s and Mi-35s, with 40 to 80+ Sorties daily with fighters, mostly with ground attack aircraft in russian controlled Ukraine or frontlines like Su-24s, Su-30s and Su-34s around ~10 sorties every day with special type aircraft across Russia and controlled Ukraine like A-50, Tu-22MR, Su-24MR, Mi-17 Smalta-PG, Mi-17 Bosfor 2, Mi-17 Rychag AV and Il-20M with large bombers like Tu-22M and Tu-95 flying a few sorties a week from within Russia. For areas they have struggles with like western Ukraine and cities or areas that have had more air defence systems moved in, they have use their Su-57s or S-70s to fly with greatly reduced detection chances thanks to a median RCS in X band around 30mm, however Russia has only used this aircraft a handful of times in certain situations, most recently in the Avdiivka, Krynky and Pokrovsk area. They likely only use it in areas that are known to not have any low frequency radars or IR scanners or when Ukrainian fighters get close to the borders they use it to fly undetected.

Su-57 use confirmed by state media 

https://www.eurasiantimes.com/russia-to-press-its-su-57-fighters-for-big-onslaught-on-ukraine-could-be-used-for-typical-stealth-missions/?amp

https://www.aviacionline.com/the-sukhoi-su-57-in-combat-operations-over-ukraine

Confirmed by surovikhin

https://www.eurasiantimes.com/in-ukraine-war-russian-su-57-fighters-destroy-targets-punch-holes/?amp

Video evidence of u behind frontlines 

https://youtu.be/ti4HNy0qJsI?si=lOojXFbpOwcPEh17

This is also proves Russia has sufficient control over the airspace as yo not risk such high tech equipment. 

Russian helicopters regularly stalk the frontlines as shown by testimonials by Ukrainian fighters and video evidence. Estimates put around 5-13 Helicopters flying at any moment during the day or night either on patrol, moving troops or equipment or on attack.

Russia has destroyed nearly every single modern fighter Ukraine had, (over ~130/270) and has destroyed nearly ~500 out of ~900 area defence SAM missile launchers (nearly ½ of Ukraines S-300 batteries are destroyed with ¾ of the batteries in east Ukraine destroyed with numerous of Ukraines air defence C2 hubs in the east and south have been destroyed or captured), Ukraine during 2023 Counter offensive tried to launch a major sorties into russian held Ukrainian territory but S-400 and MiG-31BM that was data linked to A-50Us and Nebo-Ms through OSNOD detected and shot down around 12x MiG-29s, 9x Su-24Ms and 4x Su-27s over 2 months, 8 out of the past 14 major Ukrainian sorties into russian territory during their counter offensive resulted in TOTAL aircraft losses, Ukraine HAS to use stand off weapons meanwhile russian attack aircraft  regularly fly across frontlines and over Ukraine only losing an aircraft now and then. Current estimates put Ukrainian fixed wing combat aircraft strength at ~100 made up of mostly L-39s, MiG-29s, Su-27s, Su-25s and Su-24s. Losses don't mean much but they show how Russia clearly has dominance in the air and it shows how Ukraine can't fly in the same manner as Russia which again shows that one side has a degree of dominance.

Russian special type aircraft like Su-24MR, Tu-22MR, A-50M, A-50U, Ka-35 & Ka-31 AEW&C & AGS Aircraft, il-22M, Il-80 and Il-20M Command and control Aircraft and Be-200, An-30, An-26RT and Tu-214ON recon Aircraft regularly fly across donetsk and crimea with only 4 being shot down in the air recently in over three years.

Russian strategic and supersonic bombers like Tu-95, Tu-22M and Tu-160 regularly attack Ukraine with little to no resistance, despite systems like Patriot, S-200D, S-300 and SAMP/T being able to reach them, it's likely a combination of ECM systems on the bombers, supporting EW aircraft and russian S-400, S-350 and S-300V4 systems that target missiles.

Ukrainian commanders themselves have said Russia has air superiority, when they were talking about counter offensive on having the "pierce Russia's air superiority" and Ukraine air force commanders admit it aswell 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65461405

Russia at Christmas 2023, mid 2024 and early 2025 launched the largest series of air attacks of the war, all across Ukraine in cities like Lviv, Kiev, Odessa, Kharkov, Zaporizhia, Sumy, Kherson and Avdivka, using aircraft like Tu-142, Tu-95, Tu-160, Tu-22M, Su-24, Su-34 and MiG-31 launching over one hundred ballistic missiles, over 200-400 cruise missiles, hundreds of missiles and thousands of bombs from nearly 1500 to 2,000 sorties over a few days of fighters and bombers alone and never lost a SINGLE bomber or aircraft in any of those 3 attacks, despite most of these being very slow and going against cities protected by S-300, Patriot, NASAMS, IRIS-T and Buk. A big factor was likely Russia's large fleet of EW Aircraft like Il-22PP, An-12PP, Su-24MP and Mi-8MTR1 that have powerful ECM systems and jammers to protect the bombers. They done this again in January 2024 and again in August 2024 and Ukraine like in 2023 got absolutely peppered and Russia didn't lose a single aircraft. This shows a degree of DOMINANCE in the skies and shows how Russian air operations aren't prohibited by Ukrainian air power.

Even the heavily defended cities like Kiev, Lviv and Kharkov that have S-300, S-200, SAMP/T and Patriot, regularly get pounded. Meanwhile Ukrainian air forces have to mostly rely on low flying drones for long range operations to have any chance of statistically regular success meanwhile Russia regularly uses AGMs and ARMs both long range and short range. 

Ukrainian helicopters can't even get close to frontlines and can only operate in west Ukraine without a massive chance of shoot down, proof is very recently that the first time in march 2024 Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopters were seen even close to the frontline. All 3 were destroyed within landing.

Russian ground forces in Marinka captured the city in a month or so and Ukraine aviation was non-existent. Again in Avdiivka, novomykhalivka, Vosvcok and in Pokrovsk front and Vulehdar Ukrainian aviation has little to no effect in stopping Russian advances meanwhile in kursk their use of stand off weapons hasn't prohibited russian counter attacks from retaking the area and any time their airframes even got remotely close they were destroyed by MiG-31s or S-400s. This shows how their air force Has no prohibitive interference on the ground forces.

Finally Russian naval units are perfectly fine as Ukraine aviation either doesn't fly over or their stand off weapons don't do much with Russian CIWS and SAMs taking care of anything and if they fail the ECM systems can do the job. This shows no prohibitive interference on naval forces.

The evidence is pretty clear. The fact that Russia is launching numerous rotorcraft and fixed wing sorties every single day yet is only losing on average 12 aircraft every month, this shows that it is not prohibitive, prohibitive would be russia losing Multiple aircraft every time they launch a sortie and it disrupted their ability to perform the mission parameters. Ukraine has to use small drones for everything, it's for these reasons I don't think we'll be seeing much of those F-16s beyond propaganda purposes as one has already been destroyed. 

Air control is determined by two factors.

1. Fighter jets

2. Air defence systems

Russia has more of both and more advanced versions in higher numbers.

Air Superiority is maintained in a country by air defence systems or fighters, for example Russia has near air supremacy in its controlled areas thanks to its massive air defence capabilities and has complete air superiority across the frontlines and vast Majority of Ukraine only possible contested areas are western Ukraine, Kiev and other big cities were they have many SAMP/T, S-300PM, Patriot and NASAMS but again it's at minimum level 3 in those specific areas. But again after missile attacks at new year, Ukraine's lack of air defence capabilities were exposed and it just showed if Russias really wanted, they could carpet bomb Ukraine into oblivion like what the coalition did to Iraq in the gulf war.

But regardless like I said the fact that Ukrainian commanders themselves have said that Russia has air superiority, is enough evidence that Russia has air superiority nevermind the actual facts backing it up

The US and coalition lost more aircraft in Iraq in a month than Russia did in 6 months, which isn't shocking at the start because until July Russia was only launching around 200-300 sorties total daily whilst the coalition was launching around 3,000 daily. But regardless, taking losses doesn't negate air superiority, US also lost far far far more aircraft in Vietnam than Russia lost in Ukraine despite having air superiority in central Vietnam although in some areas they barely had favourable conditions thanks to NVA aces and soviet air defence systems which was a big reason they lost the air campaign and war.

What's funny is people say Russia doesn't have air superiority because they've lost on average ~120 total aircraft a year, yet USA was losing close to ~600 helicopters every year, ~400 planes every year and ~50 UAVs every year all for 9 years in Vietnam, on top of ~130 ARVN aircraft every year. It shows people don't understand what air superiority means, Christ even 'pros' get this wrong (looking at @forces_news on you tube) the point is, yes Russia has air superiority.

Of Course we always get counter arguments, most being 

“They only control a small area”

Air superiority is localised, you see people confuse air supremacy (which means total control over the skies where yoir aircraft can fly anywhere uncontested) and air superiority which means you just have a degree of dominance and your forces aren't prohibited from engaging in operations by enemy air power. They have a large degree of control of the skies, Ukrainian cities are regularly attacked, again Russia controls over 20% of Ukrainian air space where they have near air supremacy, Russia regularly uses AGMs and bombs to target ammo stashes, communication systems, power stations, barracks and transportation systems.

“They only use stand off weapons”

These weapons are only used for attacks on western Ukraine and People seem to be under the delusion that because Russia uses glide bombs, drones and UAVs this means they don't have air superiority, air superiority is defined by a degree of dominance in the air space, the fact that Russia launches hundreds of drones every day, regularly has UAVs in the sky and it's aircraft are regularly used with dozens of sorties every day and only losing 1 aircraft out of every 90 or sorties and the fact that Ukraine aviation is largely absent, this is dominance, by your logic if an opponent could just 6th gen fighters that had stealth capabilities beyond any air defence systems or radar could detect that means they don't have air superiority because they're not flying in a manner that allows the air defence systems to see them. It's also just not true as Russia has used conventional bombs and carpet bombing many times and their CAS Aircraft regularly fly over the frontlines.

 It's also very hypocritical. As groups like ISW and IISS claim israel had air superiority in iran and Syria (they didn't) despite mostly using stand off weapons and rarely flying over direct engagement zones. 

“They are prevented from engaging in operations”

Air Superiority is also determined by being able to engage in your operations without prohibitive interference from enemy air force. 

A. Russian air forces are not deterred from their operations as they launch dozens to hundreds of sorties every single day and haven't stopped or reduced using any of their air assets. 

B. Russian naval forces don't have to worry about Ukrainian air power because they control the black sea, Ukraine has a single major warship which is a landing Ship and Russia has 41 all with many CIWS systems, short to long range SAMs and not too mention and Ukrainian aircraft that left would be shot down by the integrated SAM systems along russian controlled coasts. 

C. Russian ground forces have no issues with Ukrainian air forces, russian forces are attacking in chasiv yar, pokrovsk, sinkovka and defending in kursk and Ukrainian air power is non existent, only thing they can do is use FPV drones which clearly don't do much for overall effectiveness 

Part 4: The Confusion of how Warfare works

A lot of people wonder why Russia lost so much ground to Ukraine counter offensives in 2022 along with the general fact pf why can't a country, that's supposedly a military superpower, defeat a relatively smaller military like Ukraine?

Two reasons.

1. Assets.

Not mobilising after their initial SMO failed. Russia only invaded with around ~150,000 soldiers with at most ~190,000 if you include Ukrainians, mercenaries and foreign fighters. Ukraine had around ~200,000 in active service already and mobilised ~900,000 in 2022 so when the initial operation to capture Kiev failed Russia was at a 1:4 disadvantage in manpower. Even when the coalition invaded Iraq, which was a far inferior military, they had a near 1:1 ratio of soldiers. Even now Russia only has around ~700,000 soldiers (including mercs, foreign fighters and Ukrainians) in Ukraine, if you account for logistics, maintenance and Infantry Russia can't even have half of its military in Ukraine (going off on how much equipment they have, how many people it takes to operate and how many on average is required for support and logistics along with having a reasonable amount of Infantry) by these estimates russia has somewhere in between 30-50% of its military (mostly land force) in Ukraine so probably ~45% Total military assets with back in 2022 they probably invaded with around ~20% of their total military with mostly being land force.

Need to remember that Russia wasn't and isn't using it's full strength, in functional equipment they had 10k tanks, 10k IFVs, 20k APCs, 16k Towed Artillery, 2k SPAGs, 5k SAMs, 1k SPAAGs, 11k towed AA guns, 1k rocket Artillery, 2k EW Equipment, 6k C2 equipment 4k specialist Vehicles, 3k engineering Vehicles, 110k logistics vehicles, 2k fighter jets, 2k CAS Aircraft, 20 AEW&C Aircraft, 150 AGS Aircraft, 170 bombers, 200 recon Aircraft, 300 ASW Aircraft and 100 C2 Aircraft. Even 1 million men let alone 600k let alone 190k (Russia invaded with) isn't enough to operate all their equipment and their defence budget isn't. That's what you have to realise, Russia isn't even at War in a legal sense, they have no war economy and haven't committed to mass mobilisation. Meanwhile Ukraine declared war day one, is in full war economy and mobilised all their army reserves in 2022 and in 2023 rolled out civilian conscription into the territorial defence forces , Russia has had a single partial mobilisation of 300k in 2022.

That's what people don't realise, Russia isn't even using half its total equipment. 

In functional equipment alone that means they have around ~8000 Tanks, ~6000 IFVs, ~18000 APCs, ~1000 SPAs, ~6000 artillery guns, ~1000 AA guns, ~500 Rocket Systems, ~4000 SAM Launchers and thousands of Logistical, EW and C2 equipment along with ~2 million reservists all kept in operational status behind the lines and that's not including stuff kept in permanent storage left over from USSR. They have an air force with ~1500 fighter jets, ~3000 Attack Aircraft, ~500 EW Aircraft, ~20 AEW&C Aircraft, ~300 ASW Aircraft, ~200 Recon Aircraft, ~100 AGS Aircraft, ~100 command aircraft, ~170 bombers, ~500 Helicopters, ~500 Transports, ~300 UCAVs and around ~400 UAVs yet based on information and speculation they only utilise around ~400 fighters, ~100 Special Type Aircraft, ~80 Bombers, ~600 Helicopters, ~300 Transports, ~500 Attack Aircraft and ~130 Drones, and same with their navy their black sea fleet has over ~40 major Warships yet half of it is kept in ports. Ukraine on the other hand if we account for their total reserve mobilisation and constant drafts they had around at max around 1.4 million fighting so around 900,000 tops all together fighting in 2024 if we account for losses and utilising every single bit of their military equipment.

Based on what Russia and Ukraine says, based on how many soldiers they have in Ukraine, based on how much equipment they have and based on how many men it takes to operate X or Y equipment, Russia mobilised around ~800,000 soldiers max from all areas total in Ukraine from with around ~600,000 russian army fighting in 2024 if we account for losses we can estimate russian forces in Ukraine are around ~2000 Tanks, ~3000 IFVs, ~4000 APCs, ~1000 SPAGs, ~4000 artillery guns, ~800 Rocket Systems, ~800 Anti Tank Systems, ~800 AA guns and ~1000 SAM Launchers.

2. Cost of war

It's insanity when you think about it, Ukraine is going full force with their defence budget at over ¼ of GDP and over 600% of tax revenue with constant mobilisations, forced conscription of civilians and over $270 billion in aid pledged to Ukraine with around ⅔ received as of 2025, they are in full war economy with all their military assets in use.

This is against a Russia who still sees this is a just a normal military operation, there is no mass mobilisation of equipment or reserves, there's no conscription and there's no war economy.

(I debunk the idea that Russia has a war economy in my myths of the Russian army in Ukraine essay)

The problem is costs, Russia's defence budget and manpower isn't enough to operate all their equipment or to pay all the soldiers for active duty a crazy comparison is that UK defence budget is nearly ⅔ of the Russian Military budget even if you account for purchasing power and lower costs its crazy low, Just think Russia is in a major war against a country that on paper in 2021 had the 6th most powerful land force on earth and that's not including the ~$150 billion in NATO military supplies and logistical costs, yet russia's defence budget has only been on average ~4-5% of GDP Nominal and ~12-18% of tax revenue per year, for comparison US defence spending in Vietnam was on average ~10% of GDP Nominal per year and ~40% of tax revenue and that's not even including Australia, Philippines and South Korea that helped OR the £26 billion in aid per year that went to the ARVN or in other words an additional ~2% of GDP and ~15% of tax revenue. For forces used in Vietnam ~¾ of their air force, ~⅔ of their navy and ~⅓ of their land force along with the majority of their soldiers were all in Vietnam as well as the fact they had mandatory conscription of ordinary citizens whilst Russia has only had one mobilisation of its reserves.

Another comparison was US defence budget, when it fought Iraq in 1991, was ~6% of GDP Nominal and ~33% of tax revenue and that's ignoring how Iraq was an obsolete military that was already crippled during iran war and the help the US had (⅓ of the military power and ½ of the logistics was other countries) it just shows how Russia doesn't even use half of its potential which now after Ukraines push into kursk is just becoming incompetence.

A more accurate comparison, as it's the last time the US fought a near peer opponent with a half modern military, would be the Korean war in which the defence budget was on average per year ~13% of GDP Nominal and a whopping ~80% of tax revenue. Again the problem is costs. Even if we account for purchasing power it's still crazy low although the biggest issue is lack of Manpower. It's just amusing when fools say stuff like “Russia is trying its hardest” like Russia hasn't even declared war and when you actually look at the numbers you realise how foolish that statement is. The reason why Russia doesn't want to declare war and mass mobilise is three fold. 

1. Mobilisation. Plucking ~1m people from the job sector would do incredible damage to the economy because it takes people out of work not only reducing effective output but can cause many small businesses to go bust. Combine this with being sanctioned from the ⅔ of the global economy and you can see the damage it would cause.

2. Increased defence spending. You have the Manpower but now you need the extra money to utilise it. Let's say ~$200 billion or ~10% of GDP or ~30% of tax revenue. You can't just create your money, you still need to pay for other services the same so the borrowing and deficit would have to increase which harms the economy in the long run.

3. Increased military production. To keep the supplies flowing you need to pump up military production of armaments, Munitions and equipment which requires workers pulled from other industries which again further damages economic output. 

This is why Russia doesn't want to declare war, their economy is doing well, inflation is iffy and the cost of living is stable. Doing these things would secure fast victory but you have to remember, none of this happens in a vacuum. These things take weeks to prepare and months to execute and Ukraine would notice and probably start doing the same (although they are at max capacity just now they could have another mass Mobilisation). But the point is anyone who thinks Russia is trying as hard as they can has absolutely no clue what they're talking about.

“Russian logistics are just bad”

Utter Nonsense. Now Russia had Several problems at the start Because they were only set up for a fast victory in only a few months. But in late 2022 this was fixed, railways were set up, temporary roads build and equipment in operational reserve was activated and brought to near the front, were before all the major logistics hubs were still inside Russia around a dozen hubs were built and set up inside Donetsk and this allowed rapid movement of equipment and ammunition to the front along with larger equipment and ammunition being transferred by aircraft like Mi-26 or IL-76.

Large scale logistics like missiles, tanks, IFVs, artillery, MLRS etc. Are done by either trains, aircraft or loading vehicles and these are transferred to the large hubs that are usually around Donetsk or border regions.

Medium scale logistics like food and water, munitions, combat equipment, large scale ammo, small arms, portable equipment etc. Are done by trucks or helicopters and these are mostly delivered to smaller scale FOBs or to the larger hubs.

Small scale logistics like ammo boxes and MREs these are done by usually MRAPs or normal cars and are usually done to FOBs or trenches or forward defence fortifications although if its in active zones due to threat of drones, open top vehicles or bikes are used as they are smaller targets so less visible and have passenger who can shoot down drones.

So no, there's nothing wrong with Russian logistics, logistics problems are part of all wars (I explain this in my myths of russian army in Ukraine essay) 

Part 5: Why NATO aid failed in 2023 

Now there is no denying that without NATO assistance from 2014 (especially EU and US) Ukraine would have collapsed in 2022 and same again if NATO didn't aid Ukraine from 2022, Ukraine would have collapsed in 2023. 

The issue comes from the fact that western media, think tanks and governments claimed that western equipment (combined with sanctions) would be the end of Russia, to these fools, Russia was just a gas station with nukes. There's also the issue of bad tactics and doctrine, which we will get into. 

So when Ukraines NATO backed and aided counter offensive in 2023 completely failed, you can see why the above statements are hilarious. 

Back to 2023 after Ukraines success in late 2022 and failures in early 2023. 

Ukraine on the other hand was taking its time, they had spent months training with NATO, they have been pledged nearly $400 billion in aid from Western countries and organisations since 2022, with around ~40% delivered up until july 2023 (~60% today). Broken down it looks like for 2022 to 2023 

~$29,580,000,000 Equipment costs

~$15,560,000,000 Munitions costs

~$769,200,000 Small arms costs

~$105,000,000,000 Logistics costs

A lot of people don't realise how much logistics costs, people think you can just send equipment and boom there you go, because in reality it's the thing that costs the most. There's fuel costs, maintenance costs, spare parts costs, systems testing costs, combat testing costs, ammunition costs, crew training costs, mechanics/engineer training costs and transportation costs and then you have to pay the crews, mechanics, drivers and engineers for the operations.

Logistics is what takes up the biggest chunk, for example the Iraq war estimated to have cost over a trillion dollars yet the actual dollar value of the equipment and Munitions used probably barely made half, it's running, maintaining and operating the equipment that costs money. 

Up till june 2023 before they launched their counter offensive they had received months of training with NATO equipment, up to ~70,000 soldiers trained to NATO standards, they received nearly 300 modern NATO air defence systems, hundreds of NATO anti aircraft guns and over 3,000 modern NATO manpads (including thousands of others) to help them punch a hole in Russia air superiority to get some momentum. They received tens of thousands of modern NATO ATGMs and nearly 500 modern NATO tanks with 400 ex soviet ones and Thousands of NATO IFVs, APCs, EW systems, radars, counter batteries SPAGs, artillery Guns etc. And dozens of aircraft including attack helicopters and fighter jets along with just over a million shells of artillery and tens of thousands of guided rockets, hundreds of missiles to hundreds of thousands of unguided rockets to hundreds of thousands of mines and hundreds of millions of rounds of ammunition and nearly half a million NATO small arms.

Their counter offensive was to split the Russian army and capture 44,000km² out of around ~100,000km² it was to liberate Crimea and prove to the world just how superior Western weapons were.

It was a colossal failure, $50 billion in military supplies, $100 billion in logistics and financial costs, months of training, access to the best intelligence NATO has, battle plans coordinated with top NATO commanders, regular acees to NATO C2 systems and AEW&C Aircraft and in nearly 5 months of fighting it only managed to capture less than ~400 km² or around less than 1% of the Stated target goal of crimea and severing  the land bridge. 

They couldn't even breach the second (out of 5) defensive line and spent 3 months fighting for a SINGLE STREET village which by the way was taken back by Russia at the start of 2024. All the hype and Ukraine still lost nearly 700 km² in 2023 overall despite their offensive. For context Russia captured more territory in a month in 2024/2025 alone, a POINT you have to remember, this was the best they could do. it shows how utterly pointless aid is and how even at Ukraines strongest, they can't do anything.

The funniest thing was all the western think tanks and media groups that said western weapons would be too good for Russia to then saying that it was all old. (we'll get into that in a bit) 

So, why did this offensive fail ? 

1. Poor planning. It seems from reports that many higher up commanders genuinely fell for their own state propaganda and thought that Russian lines would just collapse, this was probably exacerbated by the fact Ukraine 2022 counter offensive was fairly successful, oblivious to the fact that its success was mainly due to russian voluntary withdrawals. 

2. Russian air superiority. If the situation was air parity either both sides would have successfully used their aviation or neither would. Instead Russian aviation pounded Ukrainian armour and positions  whilst Ukraine had no counters. 

3. Poor NATO tactics, the idea that NATO plans its fights at a disadvantage has been completely debunked as the fact that Ukraines main pushes were just throwing armour at defensive lines en mass with little support shows very bad tactical knowledge. (Backed by Ukrainian soldiers and NCOs saying NATO tactics don't work) 

4. Russian artillery superiority. Combined with air superiority, this was a game changer as it allowed Russia to easily pound Ukrainian armour, mechanized assaults and Infantry and with modern systems like 2S19M2, 2S43 and 2S34 utilising satellite and laser guided artillery with Tornado and Uragan-1M utilising satellite guided rockets that allowed Russia to have complete fire control over much of the main front. 

5. Russian Anti tank capabilities. Ukrainian armour was decimated by ATGM nests, drones and CAS runs, Kornets from entrenched positions along with Kh-29s, Kh-38s, Vikhrs and Khrizantemas fired from Su-25s and Ka-52s seem have been the most effective at killing Ukrainian armour. 

6. The biggest game changer IMO. Russian electronic warfare, reports from trained units noted that their communications were severely disrupted whilst trying to move meanwhile vehicle and squad commanders noticed their navigation systems on their BMS tablets weren't working correctly meanwhile Ukrainian rockets, missiles and drones were disrupted by GPS spoofing or heavy ECM, russian EW Aircraft apparently fly every day. 

A big question remains. 

"Could this offensive have ever worked ?" 

Yes. In two ways. 

1. If Ukraine focused more on insurgency, utilise their strengths, they should have done in 2023 what they did in 2024, attacked kursk to cause a diversion, this was mid 2023 when the final of the 300k mobilised reserves from the russisn army were just settling in, meanwhile the wagner chaos had caused issues with the tens of thousands of mercs. Unlike in 2024 Russia would have been forced to divert troops and more importantly equipment and aviation assets to stop the attack. 

This was a failure mainly because Ukraines propaganda industry promised that Crimea would be back by summer. Not even joking when I say tickets for popular Ukrainian bands were being sold (with government approval) for consorts in sevastopol. 

So taking crimea was the main goal when their goal should have been donbas. 

Need to remember that Russia was still at a huge near 2:1 manpower disadvantage during the counter offensive. 

2. If Ukraine had kept pushing during their 2022 offensive they could have probably kicked Russia out, again by then Ukraine had 700 to 900k deployed vs russia with only 200k but they stopped as soon as they met resistance. (Which again proves that their gains in 2022 were just russian retreats) 

Let's go over the countless stuff given to Ukraine that's top of the line or still modern in use in NATOs arsenal. 

Munitions 

Brimstone 

Akeron MP 

Storm Shadow 

ASRAAM 

JDAM-ER

AIM-120C 

SMArt 155 

M982 Excalibur

DM63A1 

DM53 

M829A3

M829A1 

AGM-88E 

AIM-9X 

MAM

AASM Hammer

Paveway IV

GBU-39/B

APKWS Hydra 70 

Vulcano

Aircraft 

Mirage 2000-5F 

F-16AM 

Saab 340 

Mi-35PM 

Infantry Equipment 

AN/PSQ-42

AN/PVS-14

AN/PVS-31

AN/PSQ-20

AN/PRC-152

OB70 Lucie

M4A1 

FN2000

SA80 

FAMAS

SIG516

M110

HK416

MK 556

FN SCAR

M240

M4-WAC-47

TAR-21

HK121

SMAW-D

SMAW

Panzerfaust 3 

MATADOR

RAC 112 APILAS 

Artillery 

PzH-2000 

Zuzana 2

CAESER

Archer 

M777A2

M119A3

HIMARS 

RM-70V 

TRG-230 

M270B1 

LRU 

Air Defence Systems 

Patriot PAC-3 MSE 

SAMP/T 

NASAMS-2 

Gravehawk 

Sungur

Piorun 

Stinger J 

Armoured vehicles 

T-72M1R

M1A1SA Abrams 

Challenger 2

Leopard 2A6 

M2A2-ODS-SA Bradley 

Rosomak 

CV9040C 

Lynx 

Electronic Warfare Systems 

AN/ALQ-131

AN/MPQ-64A4

TRML-4D 

AN/MPQ-65A

COBRA 

Moruš

Western simps will still do this day brag about Iraq, when their best tank, that they had around 300 off, used an FCS from the early 70s meanwhile all their tanks lacked integrated composite armour and their BEST round was a fucking 3BM17. A god dam STEEL rod APFSDS, meanwhile russian Tankers are facing tanks with capable digital FCS on mass with hundreds of modern ones all using full alloy DU or tungusten or plug APFSDS with their top rounds for over 100 tanks being DM63s which are literally considered to be one of the best if not the best APFSDS used by NATO along with M829A4. 

Parody. 

NATO Aid to Ukraine from February 2022 to 2025  

Ground Force 

3+ Gen MBTs 131

3rd Gen MBTs 518

2.5 Gen Tanks 31

2nd Gen MBTs 685

5th Gen IFVs 2

4th Gen IFVs 575

3rd Gen IFVs 142

2nd Gen IFVs 570

1st Gen IFVs 471

4th Gen ISVs 6

3rd Gen ISVs 38 

2nd Gen ISVs 23

3rd Gen APCs 3,367

2nd Gen APCs 1,607

3rd Gen ATGM Carriers 24 

4th Gen LR Area Defence Systems 52 

3rd Gen VLR Area Defence Systems 12 

3rd Gen LR Area Defence Systems 20

4th Gen MR Area Defence Systems 169

3rd Gen MR Area Defence Systems 24

2nd Gen MR Area Defence Systems 26

4th Gen SR Area Defence Systems 3

3rd Gen SR Area Defence Systems 106

4th Gen Point Defence Systems 23

3rd Gen Point Defence Systems 152 

2nd Gen Point Defence Systems 16

4th Gen SPAAGs 4

3rd Gen SPAAGs 67 

4th Gen SPAGs 282

3rd Gen SPAGs 86 

2nd Gen SPAGs 223 

3rd Gen SPMCs 30 

GMLRS / 64 

4th Gen MLRS 115

2nd Gen MLRS 102 

1st Gen MLRS 2 

3rd Gen SR CM Launchers 8 

3rd Gen Towed Artillery Guns 232 

2nd Gen Towed Artillery Guns 213

1st Gen Towed Artillery Guns 221

1st Gen Towed AT Guns 300 

5th Gen Towed AA Guns 188

4th Gen Towed AA Guns 73

3rd Gen Towed AA Guns 250 

5th Gen Radars 30

4th Gen Radars 29

3rd Gen Radars 58 

3rd Gen EW Systems 12

3rd Gen Counter Batteries 11

2nd Gen Counter Batteries 115

1st Gen Counter Batteries 20

3rd Gen Manpads 6,700

2nd Gen Manpads 3,750

1st Gen Manpads 3,361 

5th Gen ATGMs 100 

4th Gen ATGMs 16,663

3rd Gen ATGMs 500 

2nd Gen ATGMs 11,600 

Bridgers 64 

Minesweepers 18 

Minelayers 6 

CC3 Systems 23 

Mobile SATCOMS 381 

Anti Drone Systems 67 

Portable Anti Drone Systems 398 

Air Force 

4+ Gen Fighters 14

4th Gen Fighters 27

5th Gen Attack Aircraft 39 

4th Gen Attack Aircraft 95 

3rd Gen Attack Aircraft 15

3rd Gen Helicopters 30 

2nd Gen Helicopters 2 

1st Gen Helicopters 1 

3rd Gen AEW&C 2 

UCAVs 37 

Recon UAVs 214

Navy 

Mine Ships 2

Fast Attack Craft 58 

Stocks 

3+ Generation Tanks 

M1A1SA-UKR Abrams 31x

M1A1-AIM Abrams 49x 

Stridsvagn 122A 10x

Leopard 2A6 18x

Leopard 2A6NL 3x

T-72M1R 20x

3rd Generation Tanks 

Leopard 2A4 57x

Leopard 1A5-DK 50x

Leopard 1A5 103x

T-72EA 206x

Challenger 2 14x

M-55S 28x

PT-91 60x

2.5 Generation Tanks 

T-72A 31x

2nd Generation Tanks 

T-72M1 685x

5th Generation Infantry Fighting Vehicles 

KF-41 Lynx 2x 

4th Generation Infantry Fighting Vehicles 

CV9040C 75x

Rosomak 200x

M2A2-ODS-SA Bradley 300x

3rd Generation Infantry Fighting Vehicles 

BWP-1M 142x

2nd Generation Infantry Fighting Vehicles 

BVP M-80A 35x

BVP-2 231x

YPR-765 264x

MARDER 1A3 140x

1st Generation Infantry Fighting Vehicles 

BMP-1A1 40x

BVP-1 75x

PbV-501 56x

Pbv-302 300x 

4th Generation Infantry Support Vehicles 

B1 Centauro 6x 

3rd Generation Infantry Support Vehicles 

AMX-10RCR 38x

2nd Generation Infantry Support Vehicles 

Scimitar 23x

3rd Generation Armoured Personnel Carriers 

Stryker 400x

M1117 400x 

Senator 2000x

Mastiff 40x

Valuk 20x

VAB 260x

Alvis 4 7x

Dingo 50x

Dzik 20x

Pasi 50x

Bushmaster 120x

2nd Generation Armoured Personnel Carriers 

M113A3 998x

M113A3 MEV 300x

FV104 45x

FV103 30x

BV 206 114x

BTR-60PB 100x 

TAB-71 20x

3rd Generation ATGM Carriers 

LGRL 20x

Robot 17 4x

3rd Generation Self Propelled Mortar Carriers 

M120 Rak 24x

Alakran Mortar 6x

2nd Generation Self Propelled Artillery Guns 

M109L 100x

M109A3 23x

M109A4 51x

DANA 13x

2S1 46x

3rd Generation Self Propelled Artillery Guns 

M109A6 18x

AS-90 68x

4th Generation Self Propelled Artillery Guns 

PzH-2000 142x

DANAM2 30x

AHS Krab 72x

Archer 8x

Zuzana 2 31x

CAESAR 49x

3rd Generation Towed Artillery Guns 

FH70 34x

M777A2 198x

2nd Generation Towed Artillery Guns 

L119 54x

M119A2 72x 

TRF1 15x

2A18 66x

1st Generation Towed Artillery Guns 

M101A1 90x

D-20 110x

M-46 15x

Mod 56 6x

1st Generation Towed Anti Tank Guns 

Pv-1110 300x

4th Generation Multiple Launch Rocket Systems 

RM-70V 23x

APR-40 20x

BM-21MT 9x

TRG-230 5x

HIMARS 38x

MARS II 5x

M270B1 14x

M270A1 2x

2nd Generation Multiple Launch Rocket Systems 

LRU 2x

BM-21 70x

RM-70 30x

1st Generation Multiple Launch Rocket Systems 

RAK 12 2x

3rd Generation Short Range Cruise Missile Launchers 

RGM-84A Harpoon 8x

4th Generation Long Range Area Defence Systems 

Patriot PAC-3 MSE 24x

Patriot PAC-3 16x 

SAMP/T 12x 

3rd Generation Very Long Range Area Defence Systems 

S-200C 12x 

3rd Generation Long Range Area Defence Systems 

S-300PMU 12x

Patriot PAC-2 8x 

4th Generation Medium Range Area Defence Systems 

IRIS-T SLM 11x

NASAMS-2 158x 

3rd Generation Medium Range Area Defence Systems

Hawk-III 12x 

S-125NC 12x 

2nd Generation Medium Range Area Defence Systems

Kub-M3 16x 

Kub-M2 10x

4th Generation Short Range Area Defence Systems

IRIS-T SLS 3x 

3rd Generation Short Range Area Defence Systems

Aspide 2000 100x

SPADA 6x

4th Generation Point Defence Systems 

Crotale NG 8x 

Gravehawk 6x 

Supacat HMT 5x 

Osa-AKM-P1 4x

3rd Generation Point Defence Systems 

AN/TWQ-1 20x 

Stormer HVM 6x 

Starstreak LML 100x 

Mistral ATLAS 26x 

2nd Generation Point Defence Systems

Strela-10M3 6x

Osa-AKM 10x

4th Generation Self Propelled Anti Aircraft Guns 

ZSU-23-4MP Biĺa 3x 

Terrahawk Paladin 1x 

3rd Generation Self Propelled Anti Aircraft Guns 

Gepard 1A2 52x 

Hibneryt 13x 

ZSU-23-4M3M 2x

5th Generation Towed Anti Aircraft Guns 

Skyshield 8x 

ZUR 23-2KG 60x 

Zu-23-2CP 20x 

23-Itk-61 100x 

4th Generation Towed Anti Aircraft Guns 

L/70N 73x 

3rd Generation Towed Anti Aircraft Guns 

M55M 200x 

AZP-57 50x

5th Generation Mobile Radars 

AN/MPQ-65A 10x 

AN/MPQ-64A4 24x

TRML-4D 2x 

4th Generation Mobile Radars

GM200 1x

Squire 4x 

TRML-3D 16x

Kronos GMHP 1x 

GF 300 1x 

3rd Generation Mobile Radars 

Amber-1800 6x 

ieMHRs 16x 

PS-90 36x 

AN/MPQ-53 6x 

3rd Generation Electronic Warfare Systems 

Moruš 2x

HMMWV-EW 10x 

Mobile Satellite Communication Systems 

SATCOMBw 381x 

3rd Generation Counter Battery Systems 

COBRA 1x

SQUIRE 2x

AN/MPQ-50 8x

2nd Generation Counter Battery Systems 

MAMBA 4x

ARTHUR 2x

UAS 100x 

AN/TPQ-49 4x

AN/TPQ-48 5x

1st Generation Counter Battery Systems

AN/TPQ-36 20x

Anti Drone Systems 

NOTA 6x

Cortex Typhon 55x 

Vampire 6x

Portable Anti Drone Systems 

EDM4S-UA 110x

RF-360 288x

CC3 Systems 

LPG-WDSz 8x

M7 3x

M577A3 10x

M577A2 2x

Bridging Vehicles 

MT-55A 12x

PMP 34x 

Biber 10x

M60 AVLB 8x

Minesweepers 

Leopard 2R 6x 

M58 6x

M1150 4x

Bozena 4 2x

Minelayers 

Shielder 6x

1st Generation Man Portable Air Defence Systems

Strela-2 3,135x

Strela-2M 226x

2nd Generation Man Portable Air Defence Systems 

Strela-3 2,700x 

Stinger 1,050x 

3rd Generation Man Portable Air Defence Systems

RBS-70 200x 

Starstreak 1,800x

Piorun 1,000x

Mistral M2 400x 

Stinger J 3,000x 

Igla 300x

5th Generation Anti Tank Guided Missile Launchers 

Akeron MP 100x

4th Generation Anti Tank Guided Missile Launchers 

NLAW 5,763x

Javelin E 10,000x

Javelin 600x

3rd Generation Anti Tank Guided Missile Launchers 

RBS-56B BILL 500x

2nd Generation Anti Tank Guided Missile Launchers 

TOW-2A 10,000x

TOW-2 1,500x

MILAN 100x

3rd Generation Attack Aircraft 

WS-61 HAS.5 3x 

Mi-8MTV-1 12x

4th Generation Attack Aircraft

Su-25K 14x 

Mi-24P 31x 

Mi-24V 7x 

Mi-17V-5 43x 

5th Generation Attack Aircraft 

Mi-171Sh 28x 

Mi-35PM 10x 

L-39ZA 1x 

4th Generation Fighters Jets

MiG-29A 14x 

MiG-29AS 13x 

4+ Generation Fighter Jets 

Mirage 2000-5F 8x

F-16AM 6x 

3rd Generation Helicopters

Mi-2MSB 11x 

SA 330 8x 

Ka-32A11BC 6x 

UH-60A 1x 

Mi-17 4x

2nd Generation Helicopters 

Mi-8 2x

1st Generation Helicopters 

Mi-2 1x

3rd Generation AEW&C Aircraft 

Saab 340 2x 

Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles

Bayraktar TB2 37x 

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Primoco One 150 15x 

Sky-Watch 25x 

Scorpion 138x 

SkyRanger R60 3x

ANAFI 33x

Mine Ships 

SeaFox Minesweepers 2x

Fast Attack Craft 

Mark VI Gun Boats 16x

Island-class Gun Boat 4x

CB90 Assault Boat 38x

Totals 

Equipment 

Tanks 1,365

IFVs 1,760

APCs 4,974

Air Defence Systems 602

Anti Aircraft Guns 582

Artillery Guns 1,587

Rocket Artillery 227

Manpads 13,811

ATGMs 28,863

C2 Systems 507

EW Systems 623

Fighter Jets 41

Attack Aircraft 149

Helicopters 33

Special Type Aircraft 2 

Drones 251

Navy Ships 60

Logistics and ammo

Vehicles and utility 

Trucks 10,508x

Cars 11,780x

Bikes 1,125x

Field hospitals 49x

Generators 86,000x

Materials 

Fuel 354,780,000 litres 

Metals 102 million tonnes

Munitions and Ammo 

Munition Shells 6,130,000x

precision-guided artillery rounds 530,000x

high calibre ammunition 43,100,000x

Mines 1,070,000x

Cruise Missiles 1100x

Ballistic Missiles 600x

Air Launched Missiles 2,400x

Tank Rounds 5,540x

Large SAMs 10,100x

Small SAMs 43,400x

Controlled explosives 212,000x

Anti Tank Missiles 107,000x

Anti Tank Rockets 554,500x

Unguided Rockets 1,010,700x

Guided rockets 210,000

Small Arms Ammunition 1,090,300,000x

Grenades 3,000,000x

Small Arms

Assault Rifles 303,800x

Pistols 79,700x 

Sniper Rifles 20,100x

High Calibre machine guns 90,000x

Shotguns 12,000x

Grenade Launchers 11,000x

Anti Tank Rocket Launchers 209,000

Anti Fortification Rocket Launchers 20,200x

Infantry Equipment 

body armour/ Helmet 521,000x

Combat gear 301,000x

MREs 1,342,000x

gas masks 26,000x

Optics 41,700x

night vision devices 56,000x

Thermal devices 11,000x

Walkie talkies 108,000x

Tactical Drones 53,000x

Laser Designators 1,100x

Command and Control Equipment 

C2IS tablets 2,100x

Fully digital radios 58,000x

Digital radios 22,000x

Analogue radios 4,300x

Camps 1,200x

Command posts 63x

Radio towers 157x

Starlink Sets 20,000x 

Over ~500,000 to 1,000,000+ pieces of various logistics including tents, first aid, medical equipment, binoculars, mine detectors, 3d printers etc.

When You combine the fact that Ukraine Infantry was already semi modernised and can you see how this fight would be difficult For Russia, much of Ukraine's military is modern and capable. 

For context Ukraine has received over 5 full British army active service worth in modern frontline Infantry equipment. They have received over 3 whole French land forces worth of modern vehicles and equipment.

The last two times the US fought against countries with such calibre they got forced to draw and lost. People need to realise this is already on top of ukraines huge pre-war military. 

Also need to realise how much NATO helps. 

Access to

NATO reconnaissance Satellites 

NATO GPS and Galileo military satellite targeting 

NATO AEW&C Aircraft 

NATO reconnaissance aircraft 

NATO information networks 

NATO communication systems 

NATO intelligence agencies 

NATO high command guidance 

NATO special forces 

It's genuinely INSANE how people mock Russia performance especially when you look at how much assistance Ukraine has had and how huge their military already was. Especially when you factor in that for Russia like the Korean war, this is still just a military operation. 

Like when you look at the numbers it is fucking insane. There hasn't been proper near peer modern warfare on this level since the Korean war. A war where USA made quick gains but then got absolutely decimated by China, forced into their longest retreat in their military's history with China taking back all of the North and USA not being able to push an inch. It was such a whooping that the US brass GENUINELY wanted to use nukes because they just couldn't make any serious push backs. 

These are the fucking fanboys who criticise russias performance. Because they have no idea what they're talking about, they either have a child's understanding of this subject or have just been brainwashed into thinking Iraq was somehow a modern military and somehow USA beat them solo. 

NOTHING was funnier than in 2023 during the build up to the Ukrainian counter offensive, western media was on some premium copium. Article after article about how western equipment would be game changers on the battlefield and easily turn the tide, they would speak about how russians would likely flee at the mere sight of leopards and abrams and that Russian aircraft and armour will fall easy pray to western ECM and SAMs. 

PHA

Let's go over some articles 

https://www.fpri.org/article/2023/02/tanks-a-lot-well-actually-not-that-many-for-ukraine/ 

https://www.npr.org/2023/08/22/1195323655/nato-training-better-prepares-ukrainian-troops-in-latest-counter-offensive 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2023/jul/23/west-must-focus-on-preparing-ukraines-troops-or-we-will-all-pay-the-price 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/technology/2961493-western-weapons-green-light-a-game-changer-for-ukraine%3Famp&ved=2ahUKEwj-gOLrk8mGAxXdXEEAHdGgAHA4RhDIzwEoAHoECAwQAg&usg=AOvVaw030Ir8Tq1SigMlY_1tIodQ 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/amp/show/ukraine-awaits-arrival-of-u-s-tanks-that-could-be-game-changer-in-fight-against-russia&ved=2ahUKEwiDpKKjk8mGAxVkQkEAHbZRATA4HhDIzwEoAHoECAwQAg&usg=AOvVaw3X9sXFnl373ST8Hbctn2qn 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://jamestown.org/program/arm-ukraine-now-game-changers-in-russo-ukrainian-war/&ved=2ahUKEwiDpKKjk8mGAxVkQkEAHbZRATA4HhDF9AEoAHoECBIQAg&usg=AOvVaw0luQ0VoMbjt1LTt5l_ecTp 

https://www.googl.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://euromaidanpress.com/2022/06/08/why-long-range-western-mlrs-can-become-a-game-changer-for-ukraine/&ved=2ahUKEwiijYOTk8mGAxVsWEEAHSnNBrA4FBDF9AEoAHoECAkQAg&usg=AOvVaw33ECtx7Zihu4bo1axwkf5l 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-tanks-challenger-2-leopard-2-b2309353.html&ved=2ahUKEwiyxtD8ksmGAxX4XEEAHdohBBA4ChDF9AEoAHoECAgQAg&usg=AOvVaw2KtaBQFckc0Bq9z9oXBgnY 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2023/01/27/for-ukraine-western-tanks-could-be-a-game-changer-in-the-conflict-.html&ved=2ahUKEwiyxtD8ksmGAxX4XEEAHdohBBA4ChDIzwEoAHoECAYQAg&usg=AOvVaw2XFwThF5J5jxh67Xr1cnCv

The cope is real. It's also funny because Ukrainians themselves have criticised NATO training. 

https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-war-army-nato-trained-them-wrong-fight/ 

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/ukraine-russia-training-nato-west-military/ 

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/09/27/ukrainian-soldiers-trained-abroad-express-discontent-i-repeatedly-told-them-nato-manuals-didn-t-apply_6140349_4.html 

https://www.businessinsider.com/ukrainian-troops-left-underprepared-by-nato-training-report-2023-8 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-officer-says-sticking-nato-training-would-get-killed-2023-9%3famp

A big problem with NATO Doctrine is that it solely relies on air supremacy, air supremacy is easy when you are facing a country that uses obsolete SAMs and fighter jets.

Complaints that show how NATO is out of touch.

How to deal with Russian air superiority

This was a major problem for Ukraine as they did not have enough fighter jets to support their forces. So the solution was to bring up many mobile point defence systems in the cover of darkness like Buk, NASAMS, Tor, Osa, Strela-10, etc. To pierce Russian air power. The two problems (they didn't foresee apparently) with this is that Russia isn't dumb and Russia has massive night fighting abilities and reconnaissance capabilities so it knew when systems were being moved and engaged in SEAD beforehand or prepared the use of air and land based electronic warfare that covered their fighters and CAS aircraft that pummelled ukrainian armour.

Now we know for A FACT that NATO should know this, because air fighting tactics is one of their specialties and this is simple stuff, so the only logical explanation is that either they genuinely believe that Russia doesn't have such capabilities. In which case they are just absolutely moronic or lastly they knew but didn't care and only care about using up Ukrainian lives to weaken Russia. Either answer is horrific. 

How to deal with Russian minefields

When Ukraine Tankers were training with NATO as they normally do, you train at a disadvantage to get better, so when Ukrainian tank crews asked about how to get around Russian minefields in absence of any Minesweepers, NATOs answer was “go around it” pretty simple tbh. Isn't it ? 

Not when you realise Russian minefields extend KILOMETRES. Unlike the air one this has NO excuse, this is just SHEER incompetence in relation to offensive ground warfare, especially when such warfare has been done since WWII. 

The Counter offensive planning. 

According to leaked Information there was little to no proper reconnaissance done for russian minefields, Fortifications, SAMs, ATGM nests etc. (Despite having access to a fleet of AGS&C aircraft, NATO Recon satellites, NATO AEW&C and recon Aircraft, spies etc.) and the fact that NATO and Ukraine Commander's felt attacking the strongest points was a good idea, these were based on I shit you not, propaganda that the Russians were just not a proper military force and that they would fall apart especially when facing western weapons. 

Another huge difference is that the Russian army has a huge engineering capacity, with the russian engineer troops having 7 to 12 brigades and over 10 to 16 additional regiments totalling over 120,000 to 210,000 men. USA for example has around 90,000, Russia also has much much more engineering equipment utilised by its army and since the Soviet days has focused much more on this area than western militaries. So this could explain why ukraine and NATO planners put such little thought into this area. 

https://share.google/CbzrnfoV0nuzdO2b7

https://texty.org.ua/fragments/114022/we-had-a-chance-to-win-on-the-battlefield-and-still-have-it-general-muzhenko-on-how-to-stop-the-russians/

https://youtu.be/hUw3NGPBnUs?si=gecd5yatcsfi50IE

Other problems lie in tactics including CQB, Trench warfare, frontal assaults, etc. A big thing I've seen with NATO warfare is that it seems to rely solely On brute force air power, now brute forcing your way into gaining air supremacy is easy when you have help from over a dozen militaries, have aircraft that are across the board 1,2 and even 3 Generations higher in technology and facing a country whose air defence systems are 

1. Made up of older monopulse search radars with no LDSD 

2. Vast majority SAMs being early command guidance or tail chasers 

3. Fragmented IADS and not networked into an integrated air defence system

4. Lacks even a proper major area defence system (~80 km> range 20> km altitude)

5. No proper ground or air based Anti Aircraft EW systems 

If you think this means you could take on a country that has mostly modern fighters, over 5000 SAMs with half being modern and over half being area defence systems and all linked into an integrated C2 network and all utilise PESA or AESA radars or all aspect tracking and has massive electronic warfare capacity. Then you are absolutely delusional.  

Massive fucking difference. 

It also proves how NATO tactics clearly don't actually work when used at the disadvantage, whereas the fact Russia survived 2022 after its initial SMO failure when by mid 2022 it was at a near 5:1 manpower disadvantage and a near 1:1 in ground force equipment used and only ~2:1 advantage in aircraft used. Although a big factor was probably Ukraine incompetence, if they had committed to a massive push in late 2022 they probably could have kicked Russia out. 

NATO Doctrine is ineffective against russians

https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraine-war-army-nato-trained-them-wrong-fight/ 

https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/odr/ukraine-russia-training-nato-west-military/ 

https://www.lemonde.fr/en/international/article/2023/09/27/ukrainian-soldiers-trained-abroad-express-discontent-i-repeatedly-told-them-nato-manuals-didn-t-apply_6140349_4.html 

https://www.businessinsider.com/ukrainian-troops-left-underprepared-by-nato-training-report-2023-8 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-officer-says-sticking-nato-training-would-get-killed-2023-9%3famp

The idea that the Russian economy or its capacity to build has been diminished its also fake. Russia's economy is up (post war GDP PPP Has grown by nearly ½). Inflation is reasonable and they are outproducing the west in shells and are producing equipment at a staggering rate. In 2022 to 2024 they undertook a massive modernization campaign which upgraded ~200 T-90s into T-90Ms and ~1,900 T-62M, T-72BV, T-72BA and T-80BV into T-72BM, T-72B3M-22, T-80BVM-23 and T-62MV-22. This on top of the 200 to 300 T-90M they build every year at current rate of production and they have plans to upgrade the rest of their tanks, including ~1000 T-80BVs in use to T-80BVM-23 and T-80BM, ~400 T-90As in use into T-90Ms and ~2,000 T-72B in reserve into T-72BM and T-72B3M-22, by 2027 and of course the T-14 entered service in early 2024 with around ~70 made although it's clear it's just a LRP order as they are not only very expensive but very time consuming to build and most of Russia's assembly lines are set up to build T-90M which right now is more than enough to face off against any NATO tank in production beyond Leclerc XLR and upcoming Leopard 2A8, so the T-14 likely won't enter full mass production until the war is over and images have shown that the Kurganets-25 has entered production for final tests or use and the trials for the BMP Bumerang-BM has nearly finished and BMP B-19s are in use which will mean Russia can keep up with other 5th Generation IFVs like M2A4 Bradley, Puma, Ajax and Boxer whilst the Kurganets-25 and Bumerang will keep their IFVs with other high end 5th Generation like CV90MK-IV, Lynx and Redback.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2023/11/09/russian-army-received-1900-tanks-and-another-200-are-expected/&ved=2ahUKEwiG0eSyqMWGAxVPZ0EAHelJKQ0QFnoECA4QAQ&usg=AOvVaw35wopejczD1KQTT4J4bs5o 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D6KbPw2Glq1M&ved=2ahUKEwinurCWqMWGAxVCXUEAHcvJBrkQwqsBegQIEhAG&usg=AOvVaw2u3vB6krS38lFN3rapyLCY 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://bulgarianmilitary.com/2024/04/13/4550-russian-tanks-await-upgrade-by-2026-ukrainian-analysts/&ved=2ahUKEwinurCWqMWGAxVCXUEAHcvJBrkQFnoECCoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0V6DF49Co5P31RAiY86Nm9

Read my essay on debunking myths of russian army to debunk the idea that Russia is running out, I also debunk western propaganda in general.

Part 6: "Why is Russia using older stuff" 

Why is russia using stuff like T-62M ?

The T-62M is actually a capable tank; it has composite armour, electromechanical FCS, a ballistic computer, electronic stabilised gun, laser rangefinder and 2nd Gen Night Vision with the 2021 and 2022 versions having modernised armour and electronics with 2nd Gen thermals. 

The T-55/T-62s are as far as I can see being used as indirect fire and used for defensive positions in tree lines. I think it's probably just a case of Russia trying to use up as much old stuff as possible (they have a thousand or so of these in storage across Russia) i think this is more embarrassing for NATO because imagine giving a country your frontline equipment and training them to your standard and they can't beat a country that's using their Vietnam war era stocks. It's the same with their IFVs Russia has made extensive use of their 1st and 2nd Generation IFVs mainly the BMP-1PK and BMP-2K mostly probably because it had command capabilities and they had nearly 4000 of them, along with their T-72BVK and T-80BVK of which there was over 1000 used.

Now we need to get this out of the way. 

“Why is Russia using 1970-1980s equipment” 

Now pre war for modern equipment Russia had about ~3500 modern tanks, ~4000 modern IFVs, ~8000 modern APCs, ~3000 modern SAMs, ~400 modern AA guns, ~2000 modern pieces of artillery and over ~600 modern MLRS pieces with over 3000 pieces of modern EW and C2 equipment. Yet from as early as the initial invasion we have seen stuff like T-62As, T-62Ms, T-72AKs, T-72BVs, T-80BVs, BM-21s, 2S1s, 2S5s, 2S7s, BMD-2s, BMP-1Ps, BMP-1PKs, BMP-2Ks, MT-LBs, BTR-50Ps, BTR-60Ps SPG-9Ms, D-20s, Mi-24Vs, Mi-17V-3s, Mi-8TVs, Su-25s, etc. used. 

Why ?

Russia is using up as much old stuff as it can. Which makes perfect sense if you want to get rid of it. Even as far back as 2022 Russia was using outdated equipment and even obsolete equipment despite having plenty of modern equipment. 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/gagadget.com/en/war/145274-ukrainian-soldiers-captured-a-russian-t-80bv-we-tell-you-what-kind-of-tank-it-is-and-why-it-is-interesting-amp/ 

https://mil.in.ua/en/news/93rd-mechanized-brigade-s-fighters-destroyed-russian-t-80bv-with-javelin/ 

https://armyrecognition.com/focus-analysis-conflicts/army/conflicts-in-the-world/russia-ukraine-war-2022/discover-first-close-tank-battle-in-ukraine-between-a-russian-t-80bv-and-ukrainian-t-64b 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/03/24/those-t-55-tanks-the-russians-are-pulling-out-of-storage-they-were-obsolete--in-1973/ 

https://www.newsweek.com/fireball-fills-ukrainian-sky-paratroopers-blast-russian-bmp-1-tank-1707805 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/05/25/the-russian-army-is-running-out-of-tanks-for-the-war-in-ukraine-these-60-year-old-t-62s-are-proof/ 

https://www.twz.com/signs-point-to-russia-sending-ancient-t-54-series-of-tanks-to-ukraine 

Don't get me wrong, it's dumb as fuck in terms of overall strategy and probably contributed to why their armoured units got absolutely decimated in 2022 (they lost over 3000 tanks, nearly 2000 IFVs and over 2000 APCs in 2022 alone most being T-72BVs, T-80BVs, BMP-1Ps, BTR-80As, MT-LBs and BTR-60P vehicles and T-80BVK, T-72BVK, BTR-80AKs, BMP-1PK and BMP-2K command vehicles)

So that's all it is. Russia is using up their old shit. It's why even if we use western sources alone like Oryx the decrease in equipment attrition from 2022 to 2023/2024 is something like ~50-90% across the board. 

Here is some of the common tanks in use at early 2022 and seen during build up in 2021

https://www.google.com/amp/s/gagadget.com/en/war/145274-ukrainian-soldiers-captured-a-russian-t-80bv-we-tell-you-what-kind-of-tank-it-is-and-why-it-is-interesting-amp/ 

https://mil.in.ua/en/news/93rd-mechanized-brigade-s-fighters-destroyed-russian-t-80bv-with-javelin/ 

https://armyrecognition.com/focus-analysis-conflicts/army/conflicts-in-the-world/russia-ukraine-war-2022/discover-first-close-tank-battle-in-ukraine-between-a-russian-t-80bv-and-ukrainian-t-64bv 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/03/24/those-t-55-tanks-the-russians-are-pulling-out-of-storage-they-were-obsolete--in-1973/ 

https://www.newsweek.com/fireball-fills-ukrainian-sky-paratroopers-blast-russian-bmp-1-tank-1707805 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/05/25/the-russian-army-is-running-out-of-tanks-for-the-war-in-ukraine-these-60-year-old-t-62s-are-proof/  

https://www.twz.com/signs-point-to-russia-sending-ancient-t-54-series-of-tanks-to-ukraine 

We also need to remember the tanks used by DPR and LPR.

So if we use a bit of logic. Combine these images with the fact that (according to averages from all tracker sources) of the ~3k destroyed Russian tanks in 2022 around 80-90% were stuff like T-72BV and T-80BV and in 2023 the ~2k destroyed were 50-70% of those models above. 

“That's dumb”

It is and it isn't. 

1. It's dumb because if you are facing a country with modern equipment then you are going to pay the price. 

2. It's not dumb Because it uses up stocks that are just rotting away. 

This isn't unique to Russia btw. In WWII 1941-1942 germans armoured forces were mostly made up of Panzer III and StuG IIIs which were outclassed by T-34s and SU-76s. The US during the Korean war utilised hundreds of M4 Shermans despite M46 and M47 Pattons being in frontline use. In the Vietnam war M48s and M41s were still being deployed in large numbers despite being completely outdated (little to no night vision, no stabilised gun and poor armour and replaced by M60 and M55). In the gulf war large numbers of M60A1s Were used. Same in the Vietnam war the US had deployed large amounts of A-4s, F-105s and AD-1s despite being obsolete and largely replaced by F-4s, A-7s and A-5s.

It isn't unique to Russia vs Ukraine either as again both Chechnya and Georgia wars had Russia mostly deploy T-72Bs, T-62Ms and BMP-1s whilst BMP-3, T-80U and T-90 were their modern frontline tanks and IFVs.

Again so not only is it common practice for Russia to use up their old stuff but it's quite common in many wars, so this idea that it's just desperation  makes no sense as 

1. This is an established norm

2. They have been seen since start

3. it's common by other militaries 

“Yeah but your modern equipment has been absolutely wrecked” 

So ? In the Vietnam war the F-4 got absolutely decimated by MiG-17s and MiG-21s, M48s and M47s got destroyed by T-34-85s and F-14, F-15 and F-18 lost to MiG-25s. 

Stuff gets destroyed. Doesn't prove anything.

"Russia is running out of equipment"

No. Check my debunking myths of russian army in Ukraine Post for full explanation. 

“Yeah but russian equipment has gotten CRUSHED by our old equipment so it doesn't matter”

Lol has it really though ? Firstly we love how they are now trying to say that it's all old stuff when as we've already explained the stuff sent to Ukraine is largely frontline NATO equipment. The Leopard 2A6 and M1A1SA uses the same thermals, command capabilities and FCS as the majority of frontline NATO armour (2nd Gen thermals, fully digital communication system or digital displays with C2IS software and fully digital FCS) yet both these tanks have performed no better or worse than Ukraines own T-64BV-17s with many even criticising the armour on the abrams. an M1A1SA Abrams and Leopard 2A6 is better than a T-64BV-17 (comparable to T-90A or Ukraines own T-64BM2 or T-84U)

Russian equipment has truly proved itself against modern NATO equipment, a T-90M one shotted multiple AMX-10RCRs and M2A2-ODS-SA Bradley with its rounds, T-72B3M has one shotted a M1A1SA Abrams with a Invar-M ATGM, a 2S19M1 one shotted a M-55S and a M1A1SA Abrams with a Krasnapol guided artillery shell, a T-72B3 one shotted a Leopard 2A6 with a Invar ATGM, Lancets have one shotted multiple PT-91s, M1A1SA Abrams, Bradley's, M109A6s, Archer and Leopard 2A4s, S-300V4 and S-400 systems have intercepted numerous ATACMS, Harpoons, Hellfires, Brimstones and Storm Shadows, a Ka-52 one shotted and popped a Challenger 2 with Vilkha-1 guided round and a Kornet ATGM popped another Challenger 2, Iskander-M system have destroyed multiple M270, RM-70, HIMARS, NASAMS, IRIS-T and Patriot systems, 2S19M1, BM-21-2B17, Tornado-S and 2S3M2 systems have absolutely decimated M2A2-ODS-SA Bradley's, Leopard 2A4s, Leopard 2A6s, Rosomaks, CV90s etc.

I mean no one can forget the hordes of NATO vehicles that got absolutely decimated during Ukraines counter offensive and this was modern or frontline NATO stuff like Leopard 2A6, PT-91, Challenger 2, M2A2-ODS-SA Bradley, Rosomak, CV90MK-III, etc. All wrecked.

Does this mean Russian equipment is better? No, of course not. It just proves what anyone with a brain knows. That a modern tank is a modern tank. Getting dozens of kills like in gulf war is easy because you have a 3rd Generation Tank facing 1st and 2nd Generation ones with a handful of higher end 2nd Gen ones WITH complete air supremacy.

 

Part 7: "Why were Russian Equipment losses in 2022 so high" 

There is no denying the insane losses. 4 reasons can explwiitm 

1. Modern warfare, this is the first war where one side had large stockpiles of 2nd Generation ATGMs and 3rd Generation ( digital EOTS with laser beam riding with tandem shaped charges) and many 4th Generation systems (fire and forget or ACLOS) and where one side used large amounts of 3rd/3+ Generation tanks that had digital FCS with 2nd/3rd gen night vision or 1st/2nd gen thermals and had a fighting force fitted out with 2nd/3rd and 4th gen NVGs. Entire russian columns for nearly a year were pummelled by Artillery, anti tank guns, CAS Aircraft, stand off weapons, rockets, ATGMs and the biggest killer which was cheap drones with HEAT warheads dropped on top of vehicle (weak point) and these absolutely decimated them. 

Combined with the fact that Russia made the decision to use up all their old stuff at the start meaning much of the equipment used by Ukraine was pretty equal to this stuff.

You've got to remember that this is a new stage of warfare. In WWII the large proliferation of anti tank guns like German 88s and 76s and portable guns along with modern artillery, ground attack aircraft and anti tank mines and grenades absolutely decimated soviet tanks losing over 10,000 tanks in 1942 alone and again in Vietnam where a combining of poor training by USA along with limited technologies (poor IFF systems meaning manual systems had to be employed to avoid friendly fire) and off course the Vietnam war was the first where the mass proliferation of good anti aircraft guns, SAMs and supersonic jet aircraft with IR missiles and guided guns this led to the USA losing nearly ~600 helicopters and ~400 planes every year for 9 years.

Russia went into this war with old school ground warfare ideals used in gulf war and georgia of large mechanized assaults with miles long columns. Something changed warfare forever. 

FPV Drones. These have completely changed the game, russia's invasion was very well suited to a gulf war style attack (vs a modern military obviously not obsolete like iraq) they established localized favourable air conditions and had set up ground and air based IADs to cover them. 

However drones changed the rules, Ukraine set up whole teams of FPV operators who would fly drones at terrain hugging to avoid radar and absolutely pepper Russian armour. Russian tanks and vehicles got absolutely shredded by FPV drones in urban areas

You also need to remember this is near peer warfare, high losses are expected, during the Korean war UN coalition lost ~3000 tanks, ~4000 armoured vehicles and ~3000 aircraft in 3 years. 

Russia learns though. Hence why overall attrition rates in 2023 decreased by nearly 150% compared to 2022 and by 2024 this was down a whopping 70-90%, for example ~1000 tanks lost in 2023 vs ~400 in 2024 and barely ~100 in 2025 this was also due to the fact that by 2024 russia had used up much of their older stuff. 

2. Russia didn't have air supremacy. Ukraine (other than Russia) had the best air defence capabilities in mainland Europe with around 100 S-300P batteries (8-12 Launchers each) these systems have a range up to 70 km> and use digital FCS with SARH/INS command guidance in combination with PESA search radars with track ranges of around ~200 km, protected by around ~400 point defence systems like Buk-M1, Tor, Osa-AKM and Strela-10M3/4 that are largely digital systems with modern SARH/INS guidance, PESA radar or all aspect tracking IR with over 20,000 handheld systems like Strela-3, Igla and Strela-2M which majority used all aspect tracking and a large amount of anti aircraft guns. It wasn't until mid 2023, after months of land and air based SEAD and the destruction of nearly half of Ukraines 4th Generation fighters and them running out of S-300 missiles, that Russia gained majority air superiority across the frontlines and near air supremacy across russia controlled ukraine. 

3. NATO intelligence, in modern warfare one side just can't build up large formations for surprise attacks due to recon Aircraft, AGS Aircraft and satellite imaging which Ukraine received from NATO. So Ukraine knows exactly where Russia columns are at all times.

4. Manpower disadvantage, in 2022 this was HUGE, Russia only invaded with ~190k if you count all forces. Ukraine had around ~200k fighting at start and mobilised all their reserves day one. So by summer over 700k out Of 900k had already been called up and went through basic training and armament and by the start of the 2022 Ukrainian counter offensive Ukraine had no reserves that hadn't been mobilised. So by September, the Russian army was ~200k strong facing nearly 1m men.

Yet people have the gaul to say russia did poorly in 2022, its a fucking miracle ukraine dudnt kick russia out of ukraine and crimea, russia's ONLY saving grace was air power, ukraine onky had ~200 fighters and ~400 attackers vs russia tbat deployed around ~400 fighters and ~700 attackers (out of ~1500 fighters and ~2000 attackers total operational) this meant ukraine could take back sime ground, tgey would struggle to make major pushes as your ground units need air support and any SAMs ukraine tried to bring up closer just got wrecked. 

End Statement 

If people genuinely cared about Ukrainians like we do, they'd want this war to end, ignore propaganda, Russia is not some cartoon evil. They are bad just like Ukraine although both are more moral than how the US conducts warfare that's for sure. But again both are bad, both commit atrocities against each other, both target areas with high civilians with little care and both are guilty of having funked up laws. 

Peace is what's needed. Let Russia keep the annexed areas, Ukraine keeps its military, doesn't join NATO, Russia and Ukraine can get to rebuilding and we can stop watching innocent Ukrainian men being kidnapped and thrown to their deaths.

The biggest problem I see is people criticising Russia's performance. Okay, what is your reference? It can't be the US because they have never fought a military as good as Ukraine Post Korea. 

Part 8: Statistics of the War 

Russian Federation and Donetsk & Luhansk People's Republic 🇷🇺

Statistics

Ukraine Territory Held 124,012 km²

Russian Territory Taken back 1151 km²

Territory Captured per day 22-46 km²

Territory Captured 2022 ~50,000+ km²

Territory Captured 2023 ~800+ km²

Territory Captured 2024 ~3600+ km²

Territory Captured 2025 ~6500+ km²

Tanks lost per day 1 to 6

Fatalities per day 146 to 200

Casualties per day 292 to 502

Total military deployed 900,000-1,300,000

Peak deployed 2022 ~220,000

Peak deployed 2023 ~550,000

Peak deployed 2024 ~700,000

Peak deployed 2025 ~800,000

Fatalities 200,000-250,000 

Wounded 400,000-600,000

War Spending $405 Billion

Total Military Assets used 50%

Total military capacity 30%

2026 Tax Revenue Defense Spending 18%

2026 GDP Defence Nominal Spending 5%

2026 GDP PPP Defence Spending 2%

2026 Defense Budget $120 Billion 

Percentages of operational equipment destroyed per day since invasion start then total 

Attack Aircraft 0.0040% / 5.84%

Fighters 0.0022% / 3.22% 

Logistical Aircraft 0.0074% / 10.80% 

Tanks 0.023% / 33.58%

AFVs 0.036% / 52.56%

Artillery 0.0059% / 8.75% 

Air Defence 0.0042% / 6.13%

Rocket 0.019% / 27.74%

C2 systems 0.0035% / 5.11% 

EW Systems 0.010% / 14.6%

Engineering 0.011% / 16.06%

Logistical Vehicles 0.0054% / 7.88% 

Totals

Total Pre War Op Military Assets lost 30% 

Total Pre War Military Assets Lost 6%

Total Soldiers lost 5% - 8%

Estimated losses

Fighters 61×

Bombers 14×

Special Type Aircraft 5x 

Logistical Aircraft 32x

Rotorcraft 103x 

Attack Aircraft 131x 

UAV/UCAVs 101x 

Tanks 4,862x 

IFVs 4,892x 

APCs 6,780x 

SPAs 1179x 

Artillery 1007x 

MLRS 634x 

SAMs 371x 

AA Guns 153x 

Vehicle losses 17,665x 

Engineering Vehicles 809x 

Specialist Vehicles 451x

C2 Systems 314x

EW Systems 171x 

Amphibious Ships 3x 

Cruiser 1x 

Corvettes 1x 

Submarine 1x 

Fast Attack Craft 13x 

Support Ships 26x 

Ukraine 🇺🇦

Statistics

Ukraine Territory Held 459,489 km²

Territory Captured per day 2-18 km²

Territory Captured 2022 ~22,000+ km²

Territory Captured 2023 ~400+ km²

Territory Captured 2024 ~1200+ km²

Territory Captured 2025 ~330+ km²

Tanks lost per day 1 to 3

Fatalities per day 237 to 547

Casualties per day 474 to 1,369

Total equipment lost per day 0.004% to 0.07% 

Total military deployed 1,800,000-2,200,000

Peak deployed 2022 ~700,000

Peak deployed 2023 ~1,200,000

Peak deployed 2024 ~900,000

Peak deployed 2025 ~1,100,000

Fatalities 500,000-600,000

Wounded 1,000,000-1,500,000

Total Military Assets used 90%

Total Military Capacity 70%

Military Aid $211 Billion 

Financial Aid $136 Billion 

War Spending $210 Billion 

2026 Defense Budget $53 Billion 

2026 GDP Nominal Defence Spending 26%

2026 GDP PPP Defense Spending 6%

2026 Tax Revenue Defense Spending 686%

Percentages of operational equipment destroyed per day since invasion start (post aid count to pre aid) then total

Attack Aircraft 0.020-0.022% / 29.20-32.12%

Fighters 0.020-0.021% / 29.20-31.56%

Logistical Aircraft 0.031-0.0318% / 45.26-46.6% 

Tanks 0.031-0.039% / 45.34-56.55% 

AFVs 0.021-0.044% / 31.56-64.12% 

Artillery 0.024-0.031% / 35.70-45.26%

Air Defence 0.031-0.052% / 45.34-75.92%

Rocket 0.021-0.033% / 31.56-48.18% 

C2 systems 0.023-0.052% / 35.58-75.92% 

Engineering 0.032-0.047% / 46.72-68.62%

Logistical Vehicles 0.031-0.038% / 45.34-55.48%

Totals

Total pre war Military Assets lost 89%

Total soldiers lost 50% - 85%

Estimated losses

Fighters 91x 

Logistical Aircraft 66x 

Helicopters 112x 

Attack Aircraft 161x 

UAV/UCAVs 172x 

Tanks 2,154x 

IFVs 3,005x 

APCs 4,511x 

SPAs 621x 

Artillery 1268x 

MLRS 280x

SAMs 714x 

AA Guns  1,116x 

Vehicles 10,051x 

Engineering Vehicles 413x 

Specialist Vehicles 106x

C2 Systems 642x

EW Systems 304x 

Amphibious Ship 1x 

Frigate 1x 

Corvettes 7x 

Fast Attack Craft 18x 

Mine Ships 7x 

Electronic Warfare Ships 3x 

Submarine 1x 

Support Ships 31x 

Part 9: Sources  

Information for statistics of the War 

Losses

https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-equipment.html?m=1 

https://www.oryxspioenkop.com/2022/02/attack-on-europe-documenting-ukrainian.html?m=1 

https://ukr.warspotting.net/uk/ukraine/destroyed/ 

https://ukr.warspotting.net/uk/russia/ 

https://en.zona.media/article/2022/05/20/casualties_eng 

https://ualosses.org/en/soldiers/ 

https://youtube.com/@military92?si=KkvjQpoBcEIMjOxZ 

https://youtube.com/@svetoyar?si=cQokusCdJefP7i_d 

https://youtube.com/@lampainfo?si=HiL4W_tDpRbwTLD4 

https://youtube.com/@muratyarali?si=oY7c5wjPKCKT7FQl 

https://t.me/mod_russia_en 

https://t.me/GeneralStaffZSUhttps://t.me/GeneralStaffZSU 

https://tlgrm.eu/channels/@fighter_bomber 

https://t.me/rusich_army 

https://t.me/wargonzo

https://t.me/lost_armour

https://t.me/RVvoenkor 

https://t.me/rusvesnasu 

https://t.me/dva_majors 

https://t.me/intelslava

https://t.me/SBUkr

https://t.me/mig41

Progress of war 

https://youtube.com/@warmaps78?si=Q8iqAlFq9vZcTOVc 

https://youtube.com/@freerussian01?si=pgfBDTPRcDT1joaf 

https://youtube.com/@theprojectgreat?si=5AdVcxhVrKpDDT_q 

https://youtube.com/@historylegends?si=BsNehSWQYheoyK5y 

https://youtube.com/@dpa-war?si=2kLyUhU5334F2KzW 

https://youtube.com/@military-tv?si=w5Ylj0c5LgJfyJmT 

https://youtube.com/@lesconflitsencartes4159?si=VGEK-Nf6-As1-257

https://t.me/milinfolive

https://t.me/voenacher

https://t.me/readovkanews

https://t.me/UkraineMaps

https://t.me/yurasumy

https://t.me/mod_russia_en 

https://t.me/GeneralStaffZSUhttps://t.me/GeneralStaffZSU 

https://t.me/Suriyak_maps 

https://t.me/rybar 

https://t.me/rusich_army 

https://t.me/RVvoenkor 

https://t.me/divgen 

https://t.me/DeepStateUA 

Ukraine Military Capabilities 

Ukraine Equipment numbers 

IISS The Military Balance 2014 p194-p197 & 2021 p208-p212. 2006 p136-138. Janes World Air Force's 2013 p562-567.

https://www.globalfirepower.com/country-military-strength-detail.php?country_id=ukraine

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://csis-website-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/s3fs-public/legacy_files/files/media/csis/pubs/iraq88-93.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiluoukkN6IAxW6WUEAHftZAdgQFnoECCYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3dPdulKiJNYQkm6VRGD8Wd 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://caat.org.uk/app/uploads/2020/11/1991-arming-saddam.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiluoukkN6IAxW6WUEAHftZAdgQFnoECCIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2lCwoIeJLa5anshi9m0CsK 

https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/policy-analysis/iraqi-artillery-threat 

https://www.flightglobal.com/world-air-forces-listing-f-i/29591.article 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/SIPRI%2520Yearbook%25201981.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjAxeSBgLeJAxXLA9sEHUNlESYQFnoECBUQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0A3eTe11h9BebPGh9QEnd4

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/SIPRI%2520Yearbook%25201982.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwikkvb9_7aJAxVGVfEDHQz1M4cQFnoECBgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1TMQeYyL1lm7SIhbAJpPxr

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/SIPRI%2520Yearbook%25201983.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiHutz5_7aJAxVSSPEDHS8THzgQFnoECBgQAQ&usg=AOvVaw15ebu4zULc_Fw81VUlOFmS

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/SIPRI%2520Yearbook%25201984.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi-nL7z_7aJAxXoRfEDHSONNI0QFnoECBoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3n8wiMvkrXxbeycBm891BH

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/SIPRI%2520Yearbook%25201985.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjT9ebu_7aJAxV-cPEDHUyVASUQFnoECBMQAQ&usg=AOvVaw11hzvyNW3EAN1bxTqPYm-4

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/SIPRI%2520Yearbook%25201988.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjXmpnp_7aJAxUJBdsEHSgDEJwQFnoECBMQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2FFrazYUwKjcKdt1_GQnkY

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/SIPRI%2520Yearbook%25201987.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi1g8Hi_7aJAxX1SfEDHUTuOqkQFnoECBcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2OcKRtbkniMIMdzMQZG8vD

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/SIPRI%2520Yearbook%25201986.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiCoqbb_7aJAxUDSPEDHYYXB0IQFnoECBYQAQ&usg=AOvVaw0ktslZ7w-vQXUHMG2PBNOR 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/SIPRI%2520Yearbook%25201988.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi41Izay7aJAxU1Z0EAHVzEByAQFnoECBMQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2FFrazYUwKjcKdt1_GQnkY 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/SIPRI%2520Yearbook%25201990.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwiDpp3Uy7aJAxVUWUEAHesrM-MQFnoECBIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw1E0YqMwCXfIu_a6sHIftbX 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/SIPRI%2520Yearbook%25201989.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwi5x6W2y7aJAxV4bEEAHZNQINIQFnoECA8QAQ&usg=AOvVaw3oKBb5dx10XwBFnTmWNVo3 

Ukraine military modernization 

https://sturgeonshouse.ipbhost.com/topic/61-ukrainian-armor-oplot-m-t-64m-bulat-and-other/page/41/ 

http://armor.kiev.ua/Tanks/Modern/20150922/ 

https://defenceindepth.co/2017/07/05/ukraines-military-reform-and-the-conflict-in-the-east/ 

https://www.politico.eu/article/ukraines-military-poses-a-tougher-challenge-for-russia-than-in-2014/

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/12/23/ukraine-russia-military-buildup-capabilities/

https://www.army.mil/article/189276/with_us_help_ukraine_may_put_brigades_through_new_combat_training_center_by_2018 

https://uatv.ua/en/ukroboronprom-will-begin-modernization-of-the-anti-aircraft-missile-system-video/ 

https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ukraine-returns-decommissioned-s-125-missile-systems-to-service-how-viable-is-the-pechora-in-combat-today 

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/10480 

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/is-ukraines-reformed-military-ready-to-repel-a-new-russian-invasion/ 

https://carnegieendowment.org/research/2018/02/ukraines-toughest-fight-the-challenge-of-military-reform?lang=en 

https://www.fpri.org/article/2018/08/the-ukrainian-military-from-degradation-to-renewal/ 

https://www.businessinsider.com/ukraine-modernizing-military-to-make-war-more-costly-for-moscow-2021-6  

 

Aid to Ukraine 

https://www.npr.org/2024/04/24/1246923885/what-congress-60-billion-of-military-aid-for-ukraine-could-mean-for-the-battlefi 

https://neighbourhood-enlargement.ec.europa.eu/news/eu-leaders-agree-eu50-billion-reliable-financial-support-ukraine-until-2027-2024-02-02_en#:~:text=2%20min%20read-,EU%20Leaders%20agree%20on%20%E2%82%AC50%20billion%20of%20reliable%20financial,support%20between%20now%20and%202027. 

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&opi=89978449&url=https://philarchive.org/archive/RADAOI&ved=2ahUKEwjh2dXDtemIAxWTnf0HHRb_E70QFnoECCIQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2nq5t3N9uXOXIvUSpFWNbJ 

https://www.statista.com/topics/10515/western-military-aid-to-ukraine/#editorsPicks 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_military_aid_to_Ukraine_during_the_Russo-Ukrainian_War?wprov=sfla1 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.statista.com/chart/amp/28489/ukrainian-military-humanitarian-and-financial-aid-donors/ 

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3189571/725-million-in-additional-security-assistance-for-ukraine/ 

https://www.cfr.org/global-conflict-tracker/conflict/conflict-ukraine 

Air situation in Ukraine 

Russian attacks on military infrastructure 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2024/05/08/ukraine-electricity-rationing-russia-war/ 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68976135 

https://www.ft.com/content/075cf243-eae5-48ab-9e8c-bf1f108d299d 

https://kyivindependent.com/russia-launches-large-scale-attacks-across-ukraine-air-defenses-at-work-across-the-country/ 

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/5/8/russia-unleashes-massive-barrage-targeting-ukrainian-energy-infrastructur 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2024/apr/12/russia-ukraine-war-live-us-house-speaker-negotiates-with-white-house-over-wartime-funding-for-ukraine 

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/26/world/europe/russia-strikes-ukraine-aid-railway.html 

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-targets-energy-facilities-air-attack-ukraine-officials-say-2024-05-08/ 

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/ukrainealert/ukraines-second-city-is-struggling-to-survive-amid-relentless-russian-bombing/ 

https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-bombs-cities-across-ukraine-in-massive-overnight-assault/ 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/04/15/russian-bombers-just-carpet-bombed-mariupol/ 

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/01/ukraine-war-russia-donbas-weapons-00036156 

https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/may/04/ukraine-war-briefing-russian-drone-strike-injures-three-and-sparks-fire-in-kharkiv 

https://www.euronews.com/2024/05/08/russia-launches-massive-missile-and-drone-attack-on-ukraines-energy-facilities

Air defence capabilities 

https://geimint.blogspot.com/2009/07/ukrainian-sam-network.html?m=1

https://en.topwar.ru/201755-ukrainskie-radiolokacionnye-sredstva-obnaruzhenija-vozdushnyh-celej.html

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2015/07/25/ukraine-military-seeks-to-modernize-past-soviet-era/ 

https://politicstoday.org/ukraine-military-transformation/

https://www.key.aero/article/inside-ukraines-extensive-ageing-air-defence-system

https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/12/23/ukraine-russia-military-buildup-capabilities/ 

https://defence-blog.com/ukraine-modernise-s-300v1-air-defence-system/ 

Ukraine running out of missiles and aircraft 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/06/14/the-ukrainian-air-force-keeps-losing-precious-fighters-and-attack-planes-at-the-same-drone-pummeled-airfield/ 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/apr/10/ukraines-air-defences-could-soon-run-out-of-missiles-apparent-pentagon-leak-suggests 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2024/02/08/some-day-ukraine-will-run-out-of-su-25-attack-jets-thats-why-it-wants-ex-american-a-10s/ 

https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-may-run-out-of-air-defenses-by-may-leaked-pentagon-documents-warn-b96b0655 

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/09/us/politics/leaked-documents-ukrainian-air-defense.html 

https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/ukraine-a2s-thin-loss-patriot-s300

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2022/04/08/ukraine-is-losing-several-s-300-anti-air-launchers-per-week-but-it-still-has-hundreds-left/ 

https://bulgarianmilitary.com/amp/2023/10/21/7-mig-29s-agm-88-carriers-were-shot-down-in-a-day-russia/ 

https://www.google.com/amp/s/tass.com/politics/1696579/amp

https://www.google.com/amp/s/bulgarianmilitary.com/2023/11/07/s-400-jointly-with-a-50-aewc-shot-down-su-27-and-mig-29-russia/ 

Russian SEAD during 2022 

https://youtu.be/L9t1R_jAWKU?si=-wTkeH0NORUuw3fH 

https://youtu.be/CYWyStCtaRI?si=Sne2tszBgkZJUw8f 

https://militarywatchmagazine.com/article/russia-just-destroyed-ukraine-s-air-defences-in-a-couple-of-hours-why-was-it-so-easy

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/05/13/world/europe/ukraine-missile-defenses.html

https://time.com/6271538/ukraine-air-defense-shortages-russia/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/05/02/russian-forces-scattered-ukraines-sam-batteries-for-a-few-days-in-early-2022-but-ukraines-fighter-pilots-held-the-line/