Ukrainian Forces Shoot Down 646 Air Targets in June, Doubling May Total

Ukrainian military aviation shot down 646 enemy air targets in June, nearly double the figure from the previous month, according to the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

By comparison, Ukrainian forces destroyed 365 air targets in May and 326 in April.

In addition to intercepting missiles and drones, Ukrainian aircraft have been striking Russian command posts, logistics hubs, and concentrations of troops and equipment.

The sharp rise in interceptions comes amid a surge in Russian aerial attacks. On June 29 alone, Russia used more than 500 air-launched weapons in a single combined assault on Ukraine.

Over the past week, Russia has fired more than 114 missiles and deployed over 1,270 drones of various types across Ukrainian territory.

To counter the attacks, the Ukrainian military has increasingly relied on combat aircraft, including both jets and helicopters.

American-made F-16 fighter jets, capable of engaging both cruise missiles and Shahed-type drones, have joined the air defense effort. Soviet-era MiG-29 jets are also being used to target incoming aerial threats.

In a more unconventional tactic, the Ukrainian Air Force has deployed Yak-52 piston-engine aircraft to intercept Russian reconnaissance drones.

The Yak-52 is unarmed; its second pilot fires on drones from the instructor’s seat using a personal weapon.