2014 Russia-Ukraine War

FIM-92 Stinger in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

Ukraine fielded FIM-92 Stinger missiles as a short-range air-defense layer against Russian aircraft and helicopters after U.S. and allied transfers in 2022.

Weapon profileFIM-92 Stinger
SideUkraineRoleAir Defense
FIM-92 Stinger, Man-portable air-defense system, Air Defense - 2014 Russia-Ukraine War
Image source: Wikimedia Commons Launched FIM-92A Stinger missile.jpg

Evidence Map

ClaimSources
Ukraine received and fielded Stinger anti-aircraft systems during the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War.

Sources: DoD April 2022 Ukraine Security Assistance Fact Sheet, DoD March 2022 Russian Air Activity Article

Stingers formed part of Ukraine's short-range air-defense layer against Russian air activity.

Sources: DoD March 2022 Russian Air Activity Article, DoD April 2023 Ukraine Defense Contact Group Transcript

U.S. assistance to Ukraine grew from hundreds of Stinger systems in early 2022 to more than 2,000 systems by August 2023.

Sources: DoD April 2022 Ukraine Security Assistance Fact Sheet, DoD August 2023 Security Assistance Article

Timeline

FIM-92 Stinger In 2014 Russia-Ukraine War

  1. Latvia delivers Stingers to Ukraine

    Latvia's public broadcaster reported that Latvia had delivered Stinger surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine, citing the Latvian Ministry of Defense.

    Sources: LSM Latvia Stinger Delivery

  2. European donors announce more Stinger transfers

    Germany announced 500 Stinger missiles for Ukraine, while the Netherlands said it would send 200 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles.

    Sources: RFERL Germany Stinger Transfer, Anadolu Netherlands Stinger Transfer

  3. United States lists 800 Stinger systems in drawdown package

    A U.S. security-assistance package for Ukraine included 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems.

    Sources: DoD April 2022 Ukraine Security Assistance Fact Sheet

  4. U.S. total exceeds 2,000 Stinger systems

    The Defense Department said U.S. assistance since the beginning of Russia's February 2022 invasion had included more than 2,000 Stinger anti-aircraft systems.

    Sources: DoD August 2023 Security Assistance Article

Documented Use

Direct proof of use

The FIM-92 Stinger was supplied to Ukraine for use in the 2014 Russia-Ukraine War after Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. U.S. Defense Department releases listed 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems in the March 16, 2022 drawdown package and more than 600 Stinger systems in earlier assistance committed to Ukraine.

The missiles were part of Ukraine's short-range air-defense layer rather than a stand-alone air-defense system. A March 2022 Defense Department article described Ukrainian air defense as combining aircraft with short- and long-range surface-to-air missile systems, and reported that the same security package included 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems.

Sources: DoD April 2022 Ukraine Security Assistance Fact Sheet, DoD March 2022 Russian Air Activity Article

Timeline

Stingers reached Ukraine through multiple donor channels before and after the February 2022 escalation. Latvia said a Stinger delivery reached Ukraine on February 23, 2022, while Germany and the Netherlands announced additional Stinger transfers later that week.

U.S. deliveries then scaled up rapidly. The March 16 U.S. package added 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems, an April 2022 roll-up counted more than 600 previously committed systems, and an August 2023 Defense Department article said U.S. assistance since the 2022 invasion had included more than 2,000 Stinger anti-aircraft systems.

Sources: LSM Latvia Stinger Delivery, RFERL Germany Stinger Transfer, Anadolu Netherlands Stinger Transfer, DoD April 2022 Ukraine Security Assistance Fact Sheet, DoD August 2023 Security Assistance Article

Air-defense role

In Ukrainian service, Stingers were used for low-altitude air defense against aircraft, helicopters, and similar short-range aerial threats. Reuters-syndicated reporting in May 2022 said the shoulder-fired missiles were in high demand in Ukraine and had helped stop Russian air assaults.

U.S. officials described the broader result as a layered Ukrainian air-defense problem for Russian aviation. In April 2023, General Mark Milley said Russian aircraft were being shot down and that Ukraine needed air defenses from short to long range to protect front-line forces; the statement addressed Ukraine's air-defense system as a whole rather than attributing every shootdown to Stinger.

Sources: Al Jazeera Reuters Stinger Replenishment Report, DoD April 2023 Ukraine Defense Contact Group Transcript

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Sources