There is no information available from the Kremlin indicating that Russia may have lost two military aircraft over the Sea of Azov. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov addressed reporters at a briefing in response to questions about Ukrainian media reports, making clear that no such data had been received by Moscow. He noted that the matter falls under the ongoing special operation and suggested that inquiries be directed to the Russian Ministry of Defense for official updates. Peskov’s response emphasized the absence of corroborating information from official channels, framing the issue as one tied to ongoing military activities rather than a confirmed incident.
Earlier, Ukrainian outlets RBC-Ukraine and Hromadske reported, citing sources within the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, that Ukrainian forces had downed a Russian A-50 reconnaissance aircraft and had also damaged an Il-22M aircraft. These claims circulated in Ukrainian media and were picked up by other outlets, sparking discussion about possible Russian aviation losses amidst the broader context of the conflict. The variations in reporting underscored the volatility of battlefield information and the challenge of independently verifying such claims amid ongoing hostilities. [Source attribution: Ukrainian government briefings and media reports described by RBC-Ukraine and Hromadske.]
On January 12, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a statement claiming that the Russian Armed Forces had shot down a Su-27 fighter aircraft, a Su-25 attack aircraft, and a Mi-8 helicopter belonging to the Ukrainian Air Force within the past week. The ministry attributed these losses to the combined use of Russian Aerospace Forces aviation and air defense systems. The statement also claimed that 35 missiles from the HIMARS and Uragan rocket launchers were intercepted or destroyed by Russian air defense. The ministry framed these events as part of the ongoing combat operations and highlighted the role of air defense in countering Ukrainian missile salvos. [Source attribution: Russian Ministry of Defense press release.]
Earlier public remarks from Ukraine’s senior military leadership indicated a perceived advantage for Russia in the deployment of FPV (first-person view) drones. Those comments reflected an assessment of Russian drone usage in the conflict and raised questions about the effectiveness of Ukrainian countermeasures and defensive capabilities in contested airspace. The discussion around FPV drones illustrated how technological factors are shaping battlefield dynamics, with both sides continually adjusting tactics in response to evolving drone warfare capabilities. [Source attribution: statements by the Ukrainian Armed Forces leadership and analysts quoting FPV drone usage.]