"Russia Deploys Fighter Jets to Crimea" Topic

In addition to the recent Mig-31s moved near the border of Ukraine, Russia is also moving Su-27s and Su-30s into Crimea itself.

link

Apparently, Ukraine was unable to remove some of its Mig-29s before Crimea fell to Putin's "Little Green Men" army, so the Russians disassembled at least some of them, and apparently gave them back to their original owners, on truck beds.

I suspect travel via that method would not do much to ensure future use of the airframes, which is probably the point.

Anyway, looks like more good "what-if" scenario fodder for the modern air, or land gamer.

Not sure how many fighter jets Ukraine has left to oppose these Russian jets, so any info on that would be appreciated.

Russia had jets there before too – Su-24s of 43rd Independent Naval Shturmovik (Assault) Air Squadron. The intention was always to replace them with Flanker derivatives.

Most of the Ukranian MiGs weren't operational and were in open air storage. Only way to return them was on a flat bed truck.

But I agree disassembly sabotages them further.

Ukraine has about 50-ish Su-27s of which maybe 20 are operational as well as about 80-ish MiG-29s of which maybe 20-30 are flyable (2 were lost this year in combat).

Maybe 6 Mig-29s have had minor upgrades and the rest of the fleet is 1980s vintage avionics.

Pilot training is dismal – maybe 20-50 hours flying a year if they're lucky.

Thanks for the info, Thomas.

Were the Ukrainian Migs lost to SAMs, or groundfire?

I don't recall reading about any aerial engagements between opposing fighters, though I guess it is possible that might have occurred, and I missed it.

All aircraft losses were to ground fire but not much info as to whether it was radar guided SAM, MANPADS or AAA.

I can confirm serials/codes of two MiG-29s lost and dates (Bort 02 on 7/8/14 and Bort 53 on 17/8/14) but not weapons used.

ejection-history.org.uk/CONFLICTS/UKRAINE_2014/ukrainian_conflict_update.htm

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Ukrainian_aircraft_losses_during_the_2014_pro-Russian_unrest_in_Ukraine

Why should they not?
It belongs to them since they took it from the tartars.

It belongs to them since they took it from the tartars.

Would that be the 1783 violation of the Treaty of Küçük Kaynarca, or Stalins massed deportation of 1944, or the illegal 2014 annexation?