Ukraine's military claimed to have shot down $774 million worth of Russian aircraft, representing ten planes, in the past ten days alone. The claims come amid shortages of weapons in Ukraine due to delayed deliveries from the West. Ukrainian pilots are set to deploy American-made F-16 fighter jets later this year. However, Ukraine has shown the capability to perform better than Russia on the battlefield with its existing surface-to-air, Western-made weapons. 

On February 27, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine boasted about shooting down a Russian Sukhoi Su-34 fighter bomber jet. The agency said the following on X, formerly known as Twitter: 

"Another Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber was destroyed by Ukrainian warriors [soldiers]...And now it's 10 destroyed Russian planes in 10 days!" 

Ukrainian general Mykola Oleshchuk stated that the successful attacks against the Russian Air Force began on February 17. He said the following on Telegram:

"On the morning of February 17 2024 [when], in the eastern [sector], units of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed three enemy aircraft at once - two Su-34 fighter-bombers and one Su-35 fighter." 

On February 23, it was reported that a Russian Beriev A-50 spy (AWACS) plane was downed by a missile somewhere over the Russian city of Krasnodar using an upgraded Soviet S-200 long-range rocket. Videos on Telegram show the alleged crash site of the downed spy plane. This is the second downing of the A-50 spy plane in one month, a massive blow to Russia's already limited fleet of spy aircraft. Without planes such as the A-50, it will become increasingly harder for the Russian military to scout out areas to strike with missiles in Ukraine. The downing leaves only six A-50s left in Russia's weakening Air Force. 

According to Russia's Ministry of Defence, Ukrainian forces have, in the past ten days, shot down seven Sukhoi Su-34s and two additional Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets/bombers. Unverified reports, videos, and photos emerging from Ukraine on social media appear to back up the number of shootdowns, with multiple videos showing aircraft being shot down at night and during the day. 

Western-made weapons are likely to have played a key role in the dramatic increase in shootdowns of Russian planes by the Ukrainian military in recent weeks. Military experts and researchers in the West say that Ukrainian ground forces have likely used American-made surface-to-air patriot missile systems to accomplish the recent shootdowns. 

While Ukraine has been receiving these systems for around half a year now, it is clear that the country is taking more risks with the limited number of Western weapons they have (including missile systems) by bringing them closer to the front lines of the prolonged Russia-Ukraine conflict. This effort aims to break the stalemate of this two-year-long conflict. Ukraine will receive Western F-16 fighter jets later this year, which will help Ukraine regain air superiority over the country's airspace.