299th Tactical Aviation Brigade

299th Tactical Aviation Brigade
Active4 November 1976 – present
CountryUkraine Ukraine
Soviet Union Soviet Union (1976–1991)
Branch Ukrainian Air Force
 Soviet Navy (1976–1991)
TypeBrigade
Size950 personnel
36 aircraft
Part ofAir Command South
Garrison/HQKulbakino Air Base, Mykolaiv Oblast
EngagementsSoviet–Afghan War
Decorations
For Courage and Bravery
Commanders
Current
commander		Lieutenant Colonel Andriy Yastrebov
Aircraft flown
AttackSukhoi Su-25
TrainerAero L-39 Albatros

The 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade (299 BrTA),"Lieutenant General Vasyl Nikiforov", is a formation of the Ukrainian Air Force based at Kulbakino Air Base, Mykolaiv Oblast. The unit is equipped with Sukhoi Su-25 attack aircraft and is tasked with providing close air support for the Ukrainian Ground Forces and the Ukrainian Navy. It is subordinated to Air Command South headquartered at Odesa and has some 950 servicemen. Initially the airbase operated solely Su-25s but in November 2007 it inherited some 20 Aero L-39 Albatros trainer aircraft from a disbanded unit. Known operational aircraft as of 2016 are 13 L-39Cs and 23 Su-25s (of which 5 are Su-25UBs).[1]

History

[edit]

Soviet era

[edit]

On 4 November 1976, the unit was established as the 299th Instructor-Research Shipborne Aviation Regiment of Soviet Naval Aviation at Saky Air Base, Crimea.[2] It operated a squadron of Yakovlev Yak-38s and a squadron of Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-21s.[2] By June 1979, the unit was known as the 299th Ship-Based Attack Regiment (299 KShAP).[2] Between 4 April and 9 June 1980, the unit deployed three Yak-38s to Shindand Air Base, Herat Province, during the Soviet–Afghan War to test the aircraft's combat abilities.[2]

Beginning in September 1989, the regiment began to re-equip with the Sukhoi Su-25, with the transition completed by 3 July 1991.[3] The transition to the Su-25 led to the regiment being renamed the 299th Independent Maritime Assault Aviation Regiment (299 OShAP) in 1990.[2]

Ukrainian era

[edit]

On 24 August 1991, Ukraine declared independence from the Soviet Union, which was approved via a referendum on 1 December.[4] In January 1992, the regiment was renamed the 299th Independent Assault Aviation Regiment. On 17 March 1992, the 299th was officially incorporated into the Ukrainian Armed Forces.[2]

On 1 September 2003, the regiment became the 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade (299 BrTA).[2]

War in Donbas

[edit]
See also: War in Donbas (2014–2022)
Airplane of Vladyslav Voloshin, Su-25M1, codename Blue 08 shot down by Russian air defense on August 29, 2014 during the battles for Ilovaisk.

Since 2014, the brigade participated in hostilities as part of the government operation against Pro-Russian rebels in Donbas.

On 2 July 2014, a Su-25, call sign Blue 06, crashed due to a technical fault while landing at Dnipropetrovsk International Airport. The pilot ejected safely.[5][6]

On the morning of 16 July 2014, Su-25 call sign Blue 03, was shot down over eastern Ukraine near Amvrosiivka town, and the pilot ejected successfully. National Security Council spokesman Andriy Lysenko said that it was shot down by a missile fired from a Russian Mikoyan MiG-29.[7][8][9]

On 23 July 2014, two Su-25 strike fighters, call sign Blue 04 and Blue 33 were shot down in the rebel-held area of Savur-Mohyla. Ukrainian authorities claimed that they were hit by long-range anti-aircraft missiles launched from Russia.[10][11][12][13] Ukrainian Prime Minister, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, said later in an interview that one of the attack planes was probably shot down by an air-to-air missile.[14]

On 29 August 2014, a pair of Su-25 after returning from a mission on Kuteynikov, were attacked by enemy fire. Blue 08, piloted by Vladislav Voloshin, was shot down near Starobeshevo by a surface-to-air missile during the battle of Ilovaisk. The pilot, Captain Vladyslav Voloshyn, ejected and after 4 days was able to reach Ukrainian-controlled territory, was secured by a unit of the Ukrainian National Guard.[15][16][17]

Later service

[edit]

The 299th TAB suffered the loss of two Su-25 strike aircraft due to accidents. The first on 11 November 2015, when strike aircraft call sign Blue 07 piloted by Lieutenant Yegor Bolshakov crashed after colliding with high voltage transmission lines, the pilot died.[18][19] Another strike aircraft, Blue 38 was lost on 14 July 2016 at Starokostiantyniv air base, after a failed take off.[20][21]

List of aircraft

[edit]

Before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the brigade consisted of 1 Su-25, 13 Su-25M1, 5 Su-25M1K, 3 Su-25UBM1, 2 Su-25UBM1K.[22] During the war and until April 2023 some Su-25 stored or in reserve status were refited for combat operations and two more were acquired from the Republic of North Macedonia.[23]

Tail Number Type Status Note
Blue 15 Su-25M1K Operational as of 2023
Blue 16 Su-25M1 Shot down - 26 July 2022.[24][25] Pilot Oleksandr Kukurba died while flying a combat mission defending Ukrainian skies on his Su-25.[26][27]
Blue 17 Operational as of 2023
Blue 19 Shot down - 26 February 2022 in Kherson region.[28][29][30][31] Pilot Lt. Col Oleksander Zhibrov died.[32]
Blue 20 Operational as of 2023
Blue 21 Operational as of 2023
Blue 22 Operational as of 2023
Blue 24 Operational as of 2023
Blue 25 Operational as of 2023
Blue 27 Operational as of 2023
Blue 29 Shot down - 2 March 2022, over Starokostiantyniv, Khmelnytskyi Oblast. Pilot Oleksandr Korpan died.[33][34][35]
Blue 30 Shot down - 26 February 2022 in Kherson region.[28][29][30][31] Pilot Capt. Oleksander Scherbakov [uk] died.[36]
Blue 31 Su-25M1K Shot down - 26 February 2022 near Fedorivka, Kherson Oblast [uk].[37][38] Pilot Capt. Andriy Antikhovich died.[39]
Blue 32 Operational as of 2023
Blue 35 Operational as of 2023
Blue 36 Operational as of 2023
Blue 37 Su-25M1 Shot down - 27 January 2023 near Kramatosk.[40] Pilot Danilo Murashko died.[41]
Blue 39 Shot down - 27 February 2022 near Hlibivka Vyshgorod, Kyiv region.[42][43] Pilot Gennady Matulyak died.[43]
Blue 40 Su-25M1K Shot down - 3 March 2022 on Mykolaiv[44] Captain Vadim Moroz [uk] was killed.[45]
Blue 41 Su-25M1 Operational as of 2023
Blue 44 Su-25 Refit since 2011. Current state unkwown.
Blue 45 Su-25M1 Operational as of 2023
Blue 46 Operational as of 2023
Blue 47 Operational as of 2023
Blue 48 Operational as of 2023
Blue 49 Shot down - Wreck found in Kherson region.[46] Pilot Andrey Maksinov was captured by Russian forces, he was interviewed by Russian media.[47][48]
Blue 50 Operational as of 2023 - Ex-Macedonian
Blue 51 Operational as of 2023 - Ex-Macedonian
Blue 60 Su-25UBM1K
Blue 61 Su-25UBM1K
Blue 62 Su-25UBM1
Blue 63
Blue 64
Blue 67 Su-25UBM1K
Blue 120 Su-25UBM1K

Another 10 unidentified Su-25 aircraft were reported lost.

On 14 March 2022, a Su-25 was shot down by Russian forces in Volnovakha, Donbas region. The pilot, Roman Vasyliuk, captured by Russian forces was later released on 24 April, by a Russo-Ukrainian prisoner swap.[49][50]

On 22 March 2022, a Su-25, heavily damaged by combat damage is recorded in video.[51]

On 15 April 2022, Russian forces shot down a Su-25 in Izium, the Pilot Yegor Seredyuk was reported dead.[52][53][54] Seredyuk was awarded with the Hero of Ukraine order.[55]

On 10 April 2022, a Su-25 was destroyed in the ground inside a hangar at Dnipro Airbase by Russian rocket attacks, one Ukrainian technician was wounded as well.[56]

On 14 May 2022, a Su-25 piloted by Captain Serhiy Parkhomenko was shot down in Huliaipole, Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The pilot died and was buried in Vinnytsia.[57][58]

On 7 September 2022, Ukrainian media reported the death of 299th TAB pilot Vadim Blagovismy while flying a combat mission on a Su-25.[59][60]

On 19 September 2022, the remains of a Su-25, were found in Yehorivka, Donetsk Oblast. The aircraft was destroyed by a Russian 9K33 Osa.[61][62]

On 6 January 2023, a Ukrainian Su-25 was recorded being shot down by a MANPAD over Bakhmut, the engines of the aircraft were recorded later on Bakhmut streets in April 2023 by Russian media.[63][64]

On 10 October 2023, a Su-25 was destroyed by a ZALA Lancet 3 drone attack on the tarmac of Dolgintsevo air base near Kryvyi Rih Air Base.[65]

On 7 February 2024 Ukrainian media reported the death of 299th Tactical Aviation Brigade pilot Vladyslav Rykov while flying a combat mission.[66][67]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Base Tour; Kulbakino, Ukraine, Air Forces Monthly magazine, May 2008 issue, pp. 36–40.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Golz, 2017, p. 76.
  3. ^ Golz, 2017, p. 76–77.
  4. ^ "UKRAINE'S REFERENDUM ON INDEPENDENCE AND PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION". Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Штурмовик Су-25 разбился в Днепропетровске из-за неисправности, пилот жив". www.lenta.ru. Interfax-Ukraine. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  6. ^ "Su-25 attack aircraft crashes in Dnipropetrovsk". KyivPost. 2 July 2014. Retrieved 4 October 2014.
  7. ^ "РНБО навело докази, що український СУ-25 був збитий російським винищувачем". Українська правда. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  8. ^ "Российский самолет сбил ракетой украинский Су-25 – СНБО". Korrespondent.net. 17 July 2014. Retrieved 25 May 2016.
  9. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident Sukhoi Su-25M1 03 BLUE, 16 Jul 2014". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  10. ^ "ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 168028". Aviation Safety Network.
  11. ^ "ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 168027". Aviation Safety Network.
  12. ^ "Два украинских СУ-25 сбили с территории РФ на высоте более 5 тысяч метров – СНБО". Ukrainian Independent Information Agency. 23 July 2014. Retrieved 11 April 2015.
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  14. ^ "Яценюк: украинский Су-25 сбили ракетой "воздух-воздух"". BBC Ukraine. 24 July 2014. Retrieved 12 April 2015.
  15. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident Sukhoi Su-25M1 08 BLUE *, 29 Aug 2014". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
  16. ^ "В Донбассе из российского ЗРК сбили украинский самолет Су-25". Liga News. 29 August 2014. Retrieved 24 May 2016.
  17. ^ "Иловайская трагедия: пять страшных дней майора Волошина | Новости Одессы". dumskaya.net. Retrieved 2018-04-03.
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  20. ^ "ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 188663". Aviation Safety Network.
  21. ^ "В Хмельницкой области загорелся самолет Су-25: пилот катапультировался". Pravda UA (in Russian). 14 July 2016.
  22. ^ "Украинская 299-я бригада тактической авиации в войне с Россией" (in Ukrainian). 29 March 2022.
  23. ^ "Украинские Су-25 — жовто-блакитные выживальщики" (in Russian). 12 April 2023.
  24. ^ "Справа N 203/2703/22 Провадження N 1-кс/0203/2248/2022 УХВАЛА" (in Ukrainian).
  25. ^ "An unexpected air-to-air battle is raging over Ukraine. Here's what we know about the losses on both sides". Insider. 5 September 2022.
  26. ^ "Загинув льотчик-штурмовик, 28-річний Герой України Олександр Кукурба" (in Ukrainian). 27 July 2022.
  27. ^ "Был "юбилейный" боевой вылет: Зеленский раскрыл детали гибели пилота-героя" (in Ukrainian). 27 July 2022.
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  29. ^ a b "Ukraine Claims It Has Been Resupplied With Air-To-Air Missiles". The Drive. 27 February 2022.
  30. ^ a b "Russia shoots down Ukraine Su-25 fighter jet". HS Military. 27 February 2022.
  31. ^ a b "ASN 275988". Aviation Safety Network. 27 February 2022. On further inspection these images actual show remains of 2 different #Ukraine Air Force 🇺🇦 Su-25 Frogfoot - Blue 19 - Blue ??
  32. ^ "Отец погибшего 24 февраля Александра Жиброва: О его геройстве не пишите. Это работа военного летчика". Kp.ua (in Ukrainian). 18 June 2022.
  33. ^ "He died for Ukraine. Let's honor the moment of silence of Captain Alexander Korpan (video, photo)" (in Ukrainian). 29 April 2022.
  34. ^ "З ПРАПОРОМ ТА ЧОРНИМИ ХОРУГВАМИ: У ПІДГАЙЦЯХ ПРОЩАЮТЬСЯ ІЗ ГЕРОЄМ, ЯКИЙ ЗАГИНУВ У ВІЙНІ" (in Ukrainian). 7 March 2022.
  35. ^ "На Тернопільщині поховали льотчика ударної авіації" (in Ukrainian). 10 March 2022.
  36. ^ "Герой Украины: летчик украинского штурмовика направил свой подбитый самолет на вражескую колонну" (in Ukrainian). 18 March 2022.
  37. ^ "Video – Ukrayna Savaş Uçağı Düşürüldü" (in Turkish). 10 March 2022.
  38. ^ "Aviation ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 276364". Aviation Safety Network. 6 February 2023.
  39. ^ ""Отомстим врагу за гибель Андрея!"" (in Russian). 26 February 2023.
  40. ^ "Aviation Incident #307349". Aviation Safety Network.
  41. ^ "Був збитий ворогом під час бойового вильоту: Ніжин втратив Героя – льотчика" (in Ukrainian). 28 January 2023.
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  43. ^ a b "Пілот ЗСУ Матуляк зміг відвести падаючий літак від населеного пункту, чим врятував життя сотень людей на Київщині. ФОТОрепортаж" (in Ukrainian). 18 March 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-03-18.
  44. ^ "Aviation Safety Occurrence #283561". 19 September 2022.
  45. ^ "Платформа пам'яті Меморіал Загиблі у війні Росії проти України" (in Ukrainian). 3 March 2022.
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  47. ^ "Раненый украинский пилот попал в плен, пропагандисты РФ записали с ним видео". Pravda Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 3 April 2022.
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  49. ^ "Українського пілота Романа Василюка звільнено з полонуВІЙСЬКОВІ" (in Ukrainian). 25 April 2022.
  50. ^ "Збили ворожі ППО над Волновахою: українського пілота Романа Василюка звільнили з полону". 26 TV Ukraine (in Ukrainian). 25 April 2022.
  51. ^ "Ağır Hasar Alan Ukrayna Su-25 Savaş Uçağı Boş Araziye Acil İniş Yaptı" (in Turkish). 22 March 2022.
  52. ^ "Aviation Safey # 277529". Aviation Safety Network. 18 April 2022.
  53. ^ "Тетяна Середюк: "Жодні нагороди не повернуть мені чоловіка, а донечці тата. Єгор заслужив звання Героя України, як ніхто інший"". ArmyInform (in Ukrainian). 2 May 2022.
  54. ^ "20 квітня земля Ємільчинщини прийняла на вічний спочинок ще одного Героя" (in Ukrainian). Archived from the original on 2022-04-21. Retrieved 2022-05-22.
  55. ^ "Grigoriev, Seredyuk, Tsyurik, Tsyupak, Martsenyuk: five more Heroes of Ukraine posthumously". 24 April 2022.
  56. ^ "Адміністративні справи (з 01.01.2019); Справи з приводу адміністрування податків, зборів, платежів, а також контролю за дотриманням вимог податкового законодавства, зокрема щодо". НІПРОПЕТРОВСЬКИЙ ОКРУЖНИЙ АДМІНІСТРАТИВНИЙ СУД (in Ukrainian). 21 March 2023. Archived from the original on 20 March 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  57. ^ "У Вінниці віддали останню шану льотчику-штурмовику Сергію Пархоменку" (in Ukrainian). 18 May 2022.
  58. ^ "Бойові літаки в небі над Вінницею віддали останню шану молодому льотчику-штурмовику Сергію Пархоменку". Army Inform (in Ukrainian). 18 May 2022.
  59. ^ "Живий коридор у понад 15 кілометрів: на Ніжинщині попрощалися із загиблим льотчиком" (in Ukrainian). 12 September 2022.
  60. ^ "На день народження його чекала вся родина, але він пішов у вічний політ…". Army Inform (in Ukrainian). 22 September 2022.
  61. ^ "Aviation Safety # 283548". Aviation Safety Network. 19 September 2022.
  62. ^ "Российский ЗРК "Оса" уничтожил украинский Су-25" (in Russian). 5 October 2022.
  63. ^ "The destruction of the Ukrainian Su-25 in Bakhmut PMC "Wagner" hit the video". avia-pro.net. 7 January 2023.
  64. ^ "ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 305633". aviation-safety.net. 6 January 2023.
  65. ^ Axe, David (10 October 2023). "A Russian Drone Just Knocked Out A Ukrainian Attack Jet On The Ground At Its Base". Forbes.
  66. ^ "Experienced pilot Vladyslav Rykov killed while on combat mission". pravda.com.ua. 7 February 2024.
  67. ^ "The Military Watch". facebook.com.

Bibliography

[edit]

Golz, Alexander; Cooper, Rich. Ukraine's Attack Workhorse. Air Forces Monthly, June 2017. pp. 74–81. Stanford, UK: Key Publishing Ltd.

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