Abkhazian Air Force The Abkhazian Air Force is a small air force operating from Abkhazia . Few details are available on its formation , but it is reported to have been established by Viyacheslav Eshba based upon several Yak - 52 trainer aircraft armed with machine guns . Its first combat mission was conducted on 27 August 1992 , which has come to be celebrated in Abkhazia as " Aviation Day . " The Abkhaz Air Force claims to have made 400 operational flights during the 1992 - 1993 Abkhaz - Georgian war . Abkhaz combat losses during the civil war are uncertain , but include a Yak - 52 on a reconnaissance mission near Sukhumi on 4 July 1993 . Besides the Yak - 52 , aircraft operated by the Abkhaz Air Force during the war reportedly included at least a pair each of Sukhoi Su - 25 ( NATO reporting name : " Frogfoot " ) and Su - 27 ( " Flanker " ) fighters and five L - 39 Albatros jet trainers , as well as a few Mil Mi - 8 ( " Hip " ) helicopters and several other unidentified light aircraft . However , the Russians flew numerous sorties in support of the Abkhazians and it is unclear which of these aircraft were truly Abkhazian - operated . ( There are also claims that Russian aircrew were instructed to cover up the national insignia on their aircraft and then flew raids against Georgian positions . ) The sophisticated Su - 27s in particular appear to have been operated only by the Russians , not the Abkhazians . The Russians flew Su - 27s from Gudauta Airbase , and during the attack on Sukhumi , one of them was shot down by an S - 75 Dvina ( NATO reporting name : SA - 2 " Guideline " ) surface - to - air missile on 19 March 1993 ( although it remains unknown who fired the missile ) . It is unclear whether Su - 25s said to have been in Abkhazian service during the civil war were actually theirs or Russian Air Force aircraft , although at least two seem to have been obtained prior to the withdrawal of Russian combat aircraft from Gudauta AB in 2001 . In the autumn of 2001 , Abkhazia ' s air force was reported to comprise 250 personnel , 1 MiG - 21 ( " Fishbed " ) , 1 Su - 25 , 2 L - 39 , 1 Yak - 52 , and 2 Mi - 8 . The display of three L - 39s at a parade in 2004 suggests a possible recent acquisition . In February 2007 a Russian website reported that Abkhazia has 2 Su - 27 fighters , 1 MiG - 21 fighter , 1 Yak - 52 , 2 Su - 25 attack aircraft , 2 L - 39 combat trainers , 1 An - 2 light transport , 7 Mi - 8 helicopters and 3 Mi - 24 helicopters . However , an undated 2007 Abkhaz source gave the inventory for the Abkhazian Air Force as 1 MiG - 21 , 1 Su - 25 , 2 L - 39 , 1 Yak - 52 , and 2 Mi - 8 . In March 2008 , a military aviation enthusiast website repeated this inventory but added 9 Mi - 24 / 35 attack helicopters , but a photo from December 2009 of an Abkhazian Airbase confirms 2 Mi - 24 / 35 attack helicopters , 1 Mi - 8 helicopter ( Also Present A Mi - 8 with UN Markings and an other with no markings ) , 4 L - 39 Combat Trainers , and 2 An - 2 light transports along with the single Yak - 52 ( With a Russian Civil Aircraft Tail Number ) . , there are also photos showing a second Mi - 17 . Equipment . An accounting of exact types , quantities , and service dates for aircraft serving in the Abkhazian Air Force is difficult to accurately provide due to a number of factors including Abkhazia ' s disputed status , a lack of official available information , multiple conflicts over the course of its existence , and the regular involvement of Russian aircraft and pilots in the conflicts and region . In general , the air force has relied on aircraft inherited from the former Soviet forces based in Abkhazia with possible reinforcement in recent years by Russia with second - hand aircraft . No traditional contracts for aircraft purchases by Abkhazia have been reported . Aircraft . ! width = 150 | Aircraft ! ! width = 100 | Image ! ! width = 150 | Source ! ! width = 75 | Quantity ! ! width = 100 | Role ! ! Notes Single example reported since 2001 Up to 7 reported in 2007 References . < noinclude >