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Ukraine's Air Force shoots down 3 Iskander missiles, 696 other targets in a week

Ukraine's Air Force shoots down 3 Iskander missiles, 696 other targets in a week Photo: Ukrainian soldiers intercepted 159 Shaheds in a week (Getty Images)
Author: Bohdan Babaiev

Ukrainian troops inflicted serious losses on Russian forces last week. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) shot down three Russian missiles and several hundred drones, reports the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the Air Force, from April 14 to 20, Ukrainian defenders destroyed 699 Russian aerial targets. Russian losses included:

  • 3 Iskander-K cruise missiles;

  • 159 Shahed-type attack drones;

  • 201 reconnaissance drones;

  • 336 drones of other types.

Over the course of the week, Air Force aircraft carried out 140 sorties. More than 80 of them were conducted for fighter air cover, and nearly 50 for fire strikes and air support of ground troops.

"Air Force pilots carried out dozens of airstrikes on enemy positions using bombs and missiles of various types. Command posts, concentrations of military equipment, and enemy personnel were hit," the Air Force said.

Successes of Ukrainian defenders

This week, Ukrainian defenders inflicted significant losses on Russian forces.

In particular, Ukrainian drones destroyed Russian armored vehicles in the Pokrovsk direction. The enemy equipment was completely burned. Operators from the Corsar Battalion of Strike Unmanned Aerial Systems delivered precise strikes with kamikaze drones on a Russian tank and two infantry fighting vehicles.

Additionally, drone operators from the Phoenix Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems destroyed enemy troops, communication antennas, cargo and passenger vehicles, as well as enemy positions and shelters on the Eastern front.

Moreover, fighters from the Special Purpose Center of the Ukrainian National Guard Omega also inflicted losses on the enemy. On one of the key fronts, operators of strike drones destroyed a howitzer and enemy communications equipment.

Russian losses in the war

On April 19 alone, Russia lost 950 troops. Ukrainian forces also destroyed a tank, five armored combat vehicles, 49 artillery systems, 64 operational-tactical level drones, 112 vehicles, and one piece of special equipment.

At the same time, the aviation, missile forces, and artillery of Ukraine’s Defense Forces struck 15 areas where enemy personnel, weapons, and military equipment were concentrated. They also hit three UAV control centers, two air defense systems, and five units of missile and artillery systems belonging to the Russian forces.