The fact that Ukraine had 36 Bayraktars TB2, as well as a new batch of these Turkish drones, was confirmed by Reuters and CNN.
Oryx reports 34 (18+16) but let's not split hairs and assume they did have 36.
How come Russia claims to have destroyed 40+ by now? And they're still flying.
Perhaps because mini-Bayraktars, not only TB2, also got into the statistics.
No, they clearly stated TB2:
B тeчeниe дня, дoлoжил гeнepaл-мaйop, poccийcкиe вoeнныe yничтoжили eщe 65 yкpaинcкиx вoeнныx oбъeктoв, a тaкжe cбили тpи бecпилoтникa, в тoм чиcлe Bayraktar TB2 тypeцкoгo пpoизвoдcтвa.
This was well after the "35" had been "destroyed", and there are few more announcements like that.
There are statements on the net that Ukraine previously purchased not 18, but 50 Bairaktars TV2, but I am not sure about the reliability of the
data source. Also, the head of Zelensky’s office, Andriy Yermak, in his interview on December 24, 2021, stated that Ukraine had established independent production of Bayraktarov. However, I am also not sure about the reliability of this
data source.