40th Tactical Aviation Brigade


The 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade "Ghost of Kyiv" is a formation of the Ukrainian Air Force, composed primarily of Mikoyan MiG-29 aircraft, that is based at Vasylkiv.
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History

In January 1992 the regiment took the oath of loyalty to the Ukrainian people.
Upon the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade played an important role in the Kyiv offensive. Its fighter aircraft battled the Russian Air Force over Kyiv and attempted to disrupt Russian advances on the ground. The unit took part in the Battle of Antonov Airport and the Battle of Kyiv; one of its pilots, Lt. Col. Vyacheslav Yerko, reportedly shot down four Russian aircraft on the invasion's first day before being killed. The brigade was given the honorary title "Ghost of Kyiv" in 2024 by a decree issued by President Zelenskyy.

Aircraft

List of aircraft

At the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022, 18-21 MiG-29s units were reported in operational status among Ukrainian Brigades. Along the 40th Tactical Aviation Brigade, the 204th and 114th Brigades of the Ukrainian Air Force operates MiG-29. In was reported during the Russian invasion of Ukraine that brigades shared pilots and airframes.
Here is a list of all reported operational aircraft since the 2022 conflict and their fates during the conflict.
Tail NumberTypeStatusNote
Blue 03MiG-29MU1Shot down 24 February 2022, after taking off Vasylkiv Air Base, Kyiv.Pilot Vyacheslav Radionov was killed.
Blue 10MiG-29 Shot down amid Geran-2 drone attack on 12 October 2022 on Turbiv, Vinnytsia Oblast.Pilot Vadym Voroshylov callsign "Karaya" ejected and survived.
Blue 20MiG-29 6666Crashed on Cherkasy International Airport, 23 August 2025.
Blue 12MiG-29MU2Operational as of 2022
Blue 31MiG-29 Operational as of 2023
Blue 35MiG-29Crashed on 25 February 2022 by unknown cirsunstances.Pilot ejected and survived.
Blue 47MiG-29Operational as of 2023
White 05MiG-29MU1Shot down on 24 February 2022, near VolodymyrivkaPilot Vyacheslav Yerko was killed.
White 08MiG-29MU1Operational as of 2023
White 09MiG-29MU1Operational as of 2022
White 10MiG-29 Shot down by Russian forces 9 March 2022, near Novopil, Zhytomyr.Pilot Mayor Yevgeny Lysenko died.
White 12MiG-29MU2Shot down on 2 June 2023 by a Russian S-300 on vicinity of Mirne, Donetsk Oblast.Pilot Major Vladyslav Savieliev callsign "Nomad" was killed.
White 15MiG-29MU1Shot down by Russian forces on 14 March 2022.Wreckage recorded by French media in Nova Basan, Chernihiv Oblast.
White 16MiG-29MU1Damaged on 24 February 2022, by a Russian missiles attack on Vasylkiv Air Base in Kyiv.
White 19MiG-29Operational since in 2021
White 20MiG-29MU1Crashed near Cherkasy International Airport.Pilot Serhii Viktorovych Bondar died.
White 21MiG-29In storage in 2022
White 22MiG-29MU1Damaged during a emergency landing on 30 April 2024.Pilot survived.
White 24MiG-29Shot down by Russian forces on Cherkassy 27 April 2024.Pilot Valentin "Beekeeper" Korenchuk was killed.
White 33MiG-29Operational as of 2022
White 34MiG-29Operational as of 2023
White 36MiG-29Operational as of 2023
White 38MiG-29Operational as of 2023
White 40MiG-29Operational as of 2022
White 46MiG-29Operational as of 2023
White 47MiG-29Operational as of 2023
White 70MiG-29In storage in 2022
White 72MiG-29 Destroyed during combat mission 12 August 2024Pilot Capitan Oleksandr Mygulya was killed.
White 76MiG-29In storage in 2022
White 90MiG-29UBOperational as of 2022
White 94MiG-29UBDestroyed by Russian 9M723 Iskander-M strike on the ground at Dnipro International Airport.
White 371MiG-29A/GShot down by Russian airdefenses, pilot Valentin "Beekeeper" Korenchuk was killed.Ex-Polish Air Force
White 3xxMiG-29A/GOperational as of 2023Ex-Polish Air Force
White 3xxMiG-29A/GOperational as of 2023Ex-Polish Air Force
White 3xxMiG-29A/GOperational as of 2023Ex-Polish Air Force
White 3xxMiG-29A/GOperational as of 2023Ex-Polish Air Force
White 3xxMiG-29A/GOperational as of 2023Ex-Polish Air Force
White 3xxMiG-29A/GOperational as of 2023Ex-Polish Air Force
White 3xxMiG-29A/GOperational as of 2023Ex-Polish Air Force
White 3xxMiG-29A/GOperational as of 2023Ex-Polish Air Force
White 3xxMiG-29A/GOperational as of 2023Ex-Polish Air Force
White 405MiG-29GTLost on January 5 2024. Pilot Vladyslav Zalistovskyi died.Ex-Polish Air Force
White 4xxMiG-29GTOperational as of 2023Ex-Polish Air Force
White 4xxMiG-29GTOperational as of 2023Ex-Polish Air Force
White 4xxMiG-29GTOperational as of 2023Ex-Polish Air Force
UnknownMiG-29AOperational as of 2023Ex-Slovak Air Force
UnknownMiG-29AOperational as of 2023Ex-Slovak Air Force
UnknownMiG-29AOperational as of 2023Ex-Slovak Air Force
UnknownMiG-29AOperational as of 2023Ex-Slovak Air Force
UnknownMiG-29AOperational as of 2023Ex-Slovak Air Force
UnknownMiG-29AOperational as of 2023Ex-Slovak Air Force
UnknownMiG-29AOperational as of 2023Ex-Slovak Air Force
UnknownMiG-29AOperational as of 2023Ex-Slovak Air Force
UnknownMiG-29AOperational as of 2023Ex-Slovak Air Force
UnknownMiG-29AOperational as of 2023Ex-Slovak Air Force
UnknownMiG-29AOperational as of 2023Ex-Slovak Air Force
UnknownMiG-29UBOperational as of 2023Ex-Slovak Air Force
UnknownMiG-29UBOperational as of 2023Ex-Slovak Air Force

Pilots who lost their lives

Links

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