Ukrainian air defense shot down Russian Su-34s fighter-bomber
Illustrative photo (t.me)
Ukrainian air defense forces have shot down another Russian Su-34 bomber. This was announced by the commander of the Air Force, Mykola Oleshchuk.
"Confirmation of a hit by our anti-aircraft missile system on a Su-34 fighter bomber in the Mariupol direction," he announced. He noted that the aircraft did not return to the airfield.
Oleshchuk added that there was combat work on the Russian Su-30 in the Black Sea in the Odesa direction.
"We are studying the materials of objective control to know exactly whether the target is hit or not," he said.
The downing of Russian Su-34s
On December 22, Commander of the Air Force Mykola Oleshchuk announced that Ukrainian forces had shot down three Russian Su-34 aircraft in the southern direction. He noted that this was a response by defenders to a night attack by drones.
Following this, the spokesperson for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Yurii Ihnat, pointed out that the Su-34 had long been included in Russia's loss statistics. According to him, this aircraft is one of the latest in the Russian army's arsenal and can cost around $50 million.
The command also hinted that Russian Su-34s could have been shot down using the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system.
At the same time, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in a video address that the ability of Ukrainian forces to shoot down Russian fighters is "one of the keys to a just end to the war."
