Intense Footage Shows Russian Aircraft Being Blown out of the Sky, Aftermath of Captured Pilots – Opinion

Videos continue to back up reports that Russians still haven’t secured an air superiority over Ukraine. The viral video of the Mi-24P attacking helicopter taking off over Dnieper River on Tuesday went viral. Many other shooting downs of Mi-24P attack helicopters have been captured since then.

A few of the latest Russian losses include a Mi-24 (or Ka-50, hard to tell), a Su-30 fighter-bomber, and a Su-34 bomber, and these are just the videos I’m choosing to highlight. You can find many more instances of Russian aircraft losses in the two-day period (Thursday and Friday).

Russian anti-aircraft missiles hit an attack helicopter that was flying over Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/VWfqJlFI2s

— Lucas Tomlinson (@LucasFoxNews) March 5, 2022

#BREAKINGThe fighter jet of #RussianAirForceWas shot by #UkrainianArmyNear #ChernihivAt 11:30 p.m. local. The Su-34 Strike Bomber is involved. Pilot and navigator both survived and were ejected. pic.twitter.com/Yv8GcFamgN

— Babak Taghvaee – Μπάπακ Τακβαίε – بابک تقوایی (@BabakTaghvaee) March 5, 2022

The Su-34’s flight crew ejected, and pictures have now emerged of the two men, one captured and the other having succumbed to his injuries (possibly hitting the canopy during the ejection sequence).

The poor navigator was killed. He sustained a severe head injury from the impact of the canopy. When they ejected, the airplane was already rolling. pic.twitter.com/dJYe0zxO52

— Babak Taghvaee – Μπάπακ Τακβαίε – بابک تقوایی (@BabakTaghvaee) March 5, 2022

According to me, the pilot of Su-34 struck bomber was of #RussianAirForce #ChernihivCommander of the 1st Aviation Squadron (47th Bomber Aviation Regiment). pic.twitter.com/DxnyOzVp9n

— Babak Taghvaee – Μπάπακ Τακβαίε – بابک تقوایی (@BabakTaghvaee) March 5, 2022

A Su-30 was also lost near Odessa. Pilot was captured alive, and most of his injuries were not sustained.

#BREAKINGThis is the fighter jet that #UkrainianAirForcehas been reduced to ashes in the west #OdessaThis is one of twelve Su-30SM multirole fighters belonging to the 43rd Independent Naval Attack Aviation Regiment 43 OMShAP #RussianNavyBased in #Saki, #Crimea! pic.twitter.com/lgNqrvZASo

— Babak Taghvaee – Μπάπακ Τακβαίε – بابک تقوایی (@BabakTaghvaee) March 5, 2022

According to reports, injured members of the aircrew were taken to hospitals for treatment. The videos and photos posted do not show any evidence that any group who captured them has mistreated them.

As to the broader picture, it’s probably time to start asking just how much of a paper tiger the Russian Air Force is. While you could argue that the armor units in Ukraine are not Russia’s newest technology (they appear to be mostly T-80s and T-90s), the Su-30SM, of which two were shot down yesterday, is a 4+ generation fighter and represents the best Russia has to offer in wide service. This is not a normal loss for any major power. It shows a dearth of technological advantage, operational capability, or both.

I’ve long been a proponent of the idea that the propaganda surrounding the Russian military isn’t indicative of reality. For example, it seems that Russians are capable of fighting the F-35 in open war, regardless how much troubled the weapons program may have been. They don’t have an answer for F-22.

But it’s the issues in the command and operational side of things that show the most weakness. A country can have the best equipment in the world, but if they don’t know how to organize and use it properly, with proper tactics, they will be defeated. Russia’s military is second in power, but they shouldn’t be suffering such losses, unless the air force is much weaker.

This dynamic is also likely to apply to the Chinese military. There’s a lot of smoke and mirrors coming from the Chinese in regards to their true capability. Of course, Russia and China have nuclear weapons, and that’s the great equalizer when it comes to discussions of total war.