Zelenskyy on downing of Su-34: 'Such capability is one of keys to just conclusion of war'
Photo: President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Vitaliш Nosach, RBC-Ukraine)
The ability of Ukraine to shoot down Russian fighter jets is one of the keys to a just conclusion of the war with Russia, according to President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, citing the head of state's statement.
"This week, once again, we have demonstrated how effective the strengthening of our air defense is. It is not only for the protection of cities and villages from Russian drones and missiles but also for front-line work," he said.
Zelenskyy emphasized that the ability to shoot down Russian Su-34s is one of the key aspects of ending the war.
"The ability to shoot down Russian fighter jets is one of the keys to ending this war, to a just conclusion. I thank all the partners who are already helping us with this and are preparing for the necessary steps in support next year," he added.
The downing of Russian Su-34s
On December 22, Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk announced that defenders had shot down three Russian Su-34 aircraft in the southern direction. This occurred at noon. Oleshchuk did not disclose the details of the operation, including the exact location. However, he noted that it was a response by defenders to a night drone attack.
Yurii Ihnat, the spokesperson for the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, pointed out that Su-34s had long been included in Russia's loss statistics. According to him, this aircraft is one of the latest models in the Russian army's arsenal and could cost around 50 million dollars.
