Russian aviation hit hard: Key MiG‑31Ks destroyed in August attacks

August may turn out to be the darkest month for Russian aviation since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The losses related to MiG-31K fighters are starting to look particularly painful for the invaders. Destroying these machines is especially important for Ukraine, as the takeoff of each one means an alarm throughout the country.

According to Ukrainian media citing their sources in local military intelligence (HUR), on August 16, a successful attack was carried out on the Savashleyka airbase in the Nizhny Novgorod region. As a result, two Il-76 transport planes and a MiG-31K fighter were destroyed. Five other machines stationed there were damaged, most likely also MiG-31K fighters.

The Ukrainian portal Defense Express recalls that two days earlier, there was also an attack on the Savashleyka airbase, which, although not as spectacular, resulted in the destruction of a fuel depot and the damage of one MiG-31K fighter.

The damage to six MiG-31K units and destroying one such machine will mean huge problems for the Russians. Defense Express states that this is as much as 25% of all such machines that the invading army had. Western analysts have long estimated that Russia possesses no more than 24 units of MiG-31Ks.

So far, the Russians have recorded much more significant losses regarding their other aircraft, such as the Su-25 or Su-34. However, they are less advanced or valuable because the Russians have much larger stocks. They may have over a hundred Su-34s.

The MiG-31K is a fighter revealed in 2018. It measures about 72 feet in length and over 20 feet in width and can reach speeds of up to 1,864 mph. Although it has a 23 mm caliber six-barrel automatic cannon (with a reserve of 260 rounds), the most important aspect of its armament is its adaptation to carrying Kh-47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.

These missiles measure over 23 feet in length, reach speeds of around Mach 8-10 after launch, and can strike targets as far as about 1,243 miles away. In practice, this means that their launch from Belarusian airspace allows the entire Ukraine to be within range. Therefore, the takeoff of every MiG-31K is associated with announcing an alarm.