Over the course of one week, russia suffered three tactical and strategic aircraft losses. These airframes have been involved in strike campaigns against Ukraine, according to the UK Defence Intelligence.
On September 29, 2026, russia’s Long Range Aviation fleet lost one of its workhorse, Tu-95MS aircraft, on a training flight shortly after take-off in eastern russia. The bomber suffered multiple engine failures before crashing.
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These aircraft have been used extensively to strike Ukraine over the course of the war, almost certainly creating a significant maintenance burden on the fleet.
On October 4, 2026, Ukrainian one-way attack unmanned aerial vehicle strike destroyed russian Su-35S multi-role fighter and Su-34 fighter-bomber and a munitions depot at Khanskaya airbase, russia, 500 km from Ukraine.
Su-34 aircraft are used on daily operations to launch glide munitions into Ukraine. Analysis of commercial satellite imagery dated October 4, 2026, identified the attack had destroyed two fighter aircraft, cratered the parking apron and the taxiway, destroyed one building and destroyed and damaged two munitions’ depots.
Russia has lost more than 100 fighter aircraft in the war since February 2022.