Ukraine Reports Shooting Down Russian Aircraft on Eastern Front
In a recent development on the eastern front, Ukraine has announced that its air force successfully shot down a Sukhoi Su-34 fighter jet. This marks the 10th Russian aircraft to be downed by Kyiv in just 10 days, providing a much-needed morale boost to Ukrainian forces following their retreat from Avdiivka in the eastern Donetsk region on February 17.
The Ukrainian Air Force Commander, Mykola Oleshchuk, shared the news on Telegram, celebrating the destruction of the Su-34. He emphasized the ongoing efforts to target Russian aircraft, stating that Russian pilots may not always be able to evade their missiles. This victory showcases the relentless determination of Ukraine in the ongoing conflict.
This incident comes in the wake of several other downed Russian fighter jets, adding to the tally of Russian losses. On February 17, Ukraine claimed to have shot down two Su-34s and a Su-35 combat aircraft. Subsequent reports detailed the downing of additional Su-34 and Su-35S planes in the following days, with a total of nine bombers downed in 10 days.
Moreover, Ukraine proudly declared another successful takedown of a Russian Beriev A-50U long-range radar-detection aircraft near the Sea of Azov using a Soviet S-200 anti-aircraft system. This combat achievement signifies the growing impact of Ukrainian forces in restricting Russian air capabilities in the region.
According to recent data from Ukraine’s armed forces, Russia has reportedly lost 340 aircraft over the course of the conflict, with the count continuing to rise with each new takedown. Oryx, an open-source website tracking Russian losses, estimates that Moscow has suffered 105 aircraft losses, including 25 Sukhoi-34 planes and seven Su-35S aircraft. However, the actual extent of equipment losses may be higher than documented figures suggest.
In a separate incident, Russia encountered a setback when a fire broke out in warehouses where Sukhoi planes are manufactured in Moscow’s Begovoy district, suspected to be caused by a drone strike. This event further underscores the challenges faced by Russia in maintaining its air capabilities amidst escalating tensions in the region.