Ukraine has intercepted an astonishing number of air targets since the war began

The Ukrainian Air Force has intercepted an astonishing number of air targets since it was invaded according to recent comments by the country’s President Volodymyr Zelensky. 

Zelensky revealed how many Russian air targets had been intercepted by the Ukrainian Air Force while speaking at an airbase during Air Force Day celebrations on August 6th. 

“Today we are celebrating an important day for our beloved Ukraine,” Zelensky said as he began his remarks praising the pilots whose main task he said was to save lives. 

Zelensky said the day was meant to thank the servicemen of the country’s air force who were honorably fulfilling their roles and bringing glory to themselves and the country. 

With those remarks, the Ukrainian President went on to explain how effective Ukraine’s Air Force had been in the 18 months since the country was invaded by Russian forces. 

Zelensky claimed that Ukrainian pilots had flown roughly 14,000 combat missions since the conflict began, according to Newsweek—which is a very impressive number of sorties. 

"I thank all of you, Ukrainian warriors, for every downed Russian missile and every destroyed enemy drone,” Zelensky said to the pilots he was addressing. 

The Ukrainian Air Force intercepted 3500 Russian air targets according to Zelensky and that number included aircraft and helicopters as well as missiles fired at the country. 

Zelensky also said the country’s air defense crews had downed more than 2000 of Russia’s attack drones according to Newsweek. 

If the numbers of intercepted air targets and downed attack drones from Zelensky are correct, then it would bring the total number of intercepted objects to 5500, though the Ukrainian President's figures have not been independently verified.

Russia has been targeting critical infrastructure in Ukraine with airstrikes using a variety of drones and missiles, including the Kinzhal hypersonic missile. However, Zelensky said Ukraine's Air Force had shown that Russia's intimidating Kinzhal missiles were no longer worrying. 

“This cult has been debunked forever,” Zelensky noted according to Ukrainiform before explaining that a combination of domestic and international air defense systems showed “the terrorists had no chance” and that no Kinzhal could help Moscow. 

Zelensky went on to say that it was only a matter of time before Ukraine would be supplied with F-16 fighter jets to defend the country’s skies and that the Ukriane's Air Force had become more powerful than it had been in “all the years of its existence.”

In his August 6th evening address, Zelensky praised the performance of the American Patriot and German IRIS-T air defense systems donated to Ukraine, calling them “very powerful” and reporting that they were already making a big difference. 

“Today, I heard a report on the use of advanced air defense systems—Patriots and IRIS-T… These are powerful systems, very effective... They have already yielded significant results. And not only for Ukraine,” Zelensky said. 

“Because every destruction of Russian missiles in our skies, especially air-launched ballistic ‘Kinzhals,’ which Russian terrorists have long boasted about…is a reassurance to the world that a terrorist state is not able to undermine common security,” Zelensky added.  

Zelensky went on to state that Russia had launched 65 different missiles as well as 178 drones at the country in the prior week—many of which he said were shot down, adding: “Here, in our skies, we can prove that terror is losing. All together we can prove it.”