Ukrainian Air Force shoots down 40 Russian planes and 6 helicopters over the year

Servicemen of the 121st separate territorial defence brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces hunt for enemy attack drones. Photo: Oleksandr Kozlovskyi

In 2024, Ukrainian air defences destroyed more than 1,300 Russian missiles of various types, 40 aircraft and 6 helicopters.

This was reported by the Ukrainian Air Force.

In addition, in 2024, 11,200 attack drones and 3,200 reconnaissance drones of the operational and tactical level were shot down over the country.

It is noted that Russia has used significantly more missiles and drones against Ukraine's critical infrastructure than last year. There are also a large number of drones that imitate real Shahed drones.

«In this way, the enemy is trying to complicate the air situation as much as possible, overload our air defence systems and exhaust our defenders of the sky. In addition, enemy aircraft have launched tens of thousands of guided bombs at the frontline territories, wiping out Ukrainian frontline towns and villages», the ministry said.

Russia has also expanded the production and use of ballistic missiles, including North Korea's KN-23.

This year, Ukrainian aviation has carried out more than 20,000 sorties, of which almost nine thousand were with the combat use of Western weapons.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called on NATO to supply Ukraine with at least 20 additional air defence systems.