Total destruction of Russian air defense and aviation: Ukraine launched a major operation

Ukrainian defense forces are executing a coordinated campaign aimed at suppressing and destroying the air defense systems of Russia, particularly in border regions, according to analysts from the US-based Institute for the Study of War. This operation appears to be part of a broader effort targeting Russian economic and military assets, with recent strikes hitting fighter jets, helicopters, air surveillance radars, and various air defense elements. The campaign has also expanded to include significant attacks on logistics centers, specifically targeting Ozon warehouses following earlier intensive strikes against Wildberries facilities since mid-July. The systematic nature of these operations reflects a strategic shift where Ukraine is now extending its strike campaign from trading platforms like Wildberries to include Ozon infrastructure. Since the start of the full-scale invasion on February 24th, 2022, Ukrainian air defenses have successfully destroyed over 445,000 Russian aerial targets. These destroyed assets include a wide array of weaponry such as Kinzhal and Kalibr missiles, Kh-101 cruise missiles, Iskander ballistic missiles, tens of thousands of Shahed drones, reconnaissance UAVs, Lancet loitering munitions, and other types of Russian drones. In addition to ground-based air defense achievements, the Ukrainian Air Force has conducted more than 38,000 sorties throughout the war, resulting in the destruction of over 12,000 Russian aerial threats including aircraft, helicopters, missiles, and drones. Defense Minister Yevhenii Yevhenii emphasized that these statistics represent far more than mere numbers; they symbolize cities protected, lives saved, and existential threats neutralized. The effectiveness of these operations has been so pronounced that Russia's initial plan to seize control of Ukraine's skies from the very first days of the invasion failed completely. Ultimately, the failure of Russian plans to dominate the airspace is attributed to the Ukrainian Air Force effectively shielding its own territory with its defensive capabilities. This success has forced Russia to abandon its strategy of striking Ukrainian civilians and military objectives from the air, as their aerial assets have been systematically neutralized. The ongoing campaign demonstrates a comprehensive approach where Ukraine not only defends its own borders but actively projects power into Russian territory to degrade enemy logistics and combat readiness, thereby altering the dynamics of the conflict in favor of Ukrainian security and stability.