Aerial warfare in the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Russian Aerospace Forces helicopters in a field during the invasion, March 2022

During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, aerial warfare took place as early as the dawn of 24 February 2022,[1] with Russian infantry and armored divisions entering into Eastern Ukraine with air support. Dozens of missile attacks were reported across Ukraine.[2][3] The main infantry and tank attacks were launched in four spearhead incursions, creating a northern front launched towards Kyiv, a southern front originating in Crimea, a south-eastern front launched at the cities of Luhansk and Donbas, and an eastern front.[4][5] Dozens of missile strikes across Ukraine also reached as far west as Lviv.[6][7] Drones have also been a critical part of the invasion, particularly in regards to combined arms warfare.[8][9] Drones have additionally been employed by Russia in striking Ukrainian critical infrastructure,[10][11] and have been used by Ukraine to strike military infrastructure in Russian territory.[12][13]

  1. ^ "Putin announces formal start of Russia's invasion in eastern Ukraine". Meduza. 24 February 2022. Archived from the original on 24 February 2022. Retrieved 24 February 2022.
  2. ^ Kagan, Frederick; Barros, George; Stepanenko, Kateryna (5 March 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 4". CriticalThreats. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  3. ^ Kagan, Frederick; Barros, George; Stepanenko, Kateryna (4 March 2022). "Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, March 4". Institute for the Study of War. Retrieved 5 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Ukraine rejects Russian demand to surrender port city of Mariupol in exchange for safe passage". CBS News. 20 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  5. ^ "Ukraine refuses to surrender Mariupol as scope of human toll remains unclear". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 21 March 2022.
  6. ^ Dutton, Jack (25 February 2022). "Russian Military Base Blown Up as Ukraine Fights Back". Newsweek. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Ukrainian Armed Forces attacked Millerovo with Tochka-U". Rostov Gazeta. 25 February 2022. Archived from the original on 25 February 2022. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
  8. ^ "Russia and Ukraine are fighting the first full-scale drone war". The Washington Post. 2 December 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  9. ^ Jones et al. 2022, p. 21.
  10. ^ "Russian bombings of civilian infrastructure raise cost of Ukraine's recovery: IMF". Reuters. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  11. ^ "Russia's methodical attacks exploit frailty of Ukrainian power system". The Washington Post. 25 October 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2022.
  12. ^ "Drone Attacks Military Airfield in Northwestern Russia". The Moscow Times. 19 August 2023. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  13. ^ "Ukraine drone attack hits 2 military bases deep inside Russia". ABC News. 5 December 2022. Retrieved 28 September 2023.