28 defense intelligence update on the war, London estimated that since the start of the conflict, the VKS has lost 90 combat air frames. This includes significant numbers of the most modern Sukhoi aircraft models, which have become difficult, if not impossible, to replace.

Quantifying the exact number of fighter jets lost by Russia is difficult due to the "fog of war" and conflicting reports, but independent monitoring groups like Oryx provide a baseline of verified visual losses. As of early 2026, verified losses (including aircraft destroyed, damaged, or captured) exceed 110 to 120 fixed-wing combat aircraft. This total includes high-value assets such as the Su-34 "Fullback" fighter-bomber, the Su-35S multirole fighter, and older Su-25 ground-attack jets. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense often reports significantly higher numbers, sometimes exceeding 350 aircraft, which include unverified kills and drones. Beyond traditional "combat" losses, Russia has also suffered significant "attrition" losses due to increased flight hours on aging airframes, leading to several high-profile non-combat crashes within Russian territory. These losses represent a significant strategic blow to the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS), as many of these modern jets are difficult to replace quickly due to international sanctions on the high-tech components and specialized semiconductors required for their advanced avionics and radar systems.