Ukraine downs 10 Russian planes in 10 days in £601m blitz
- Ukraine claims to have downed jets within the occupied east and a aircraft over Russia
Vladimir Putin‘s air drive has been blitzed by Ukraine over the previous ten days – with ten of its warplanes value a complete of £611 million reportedly worn out in an embarrassing setback for the invaders.
As it introduced that two of Russia’s Su-34 fighter-bombers had been blasted out of the sky yesterday, Ukraine’s defence ministry boasted that it had eradicated ten enemy planes in as many days – a charge of loss that Russia’s air drive can’t maintain.
The lack of the bombers can have set Putin’s military again tens of millions, with every value £39m ($50m). Other planes Kyiv claims to have taken out this month embrace two SU-35 jets, costing £34m ($43m) every, and an A-50U AWACS reconnaissance aircraft – which intel suggests price Russia £260m ($330m).
The strikes can be a welcome success for Kyiv, however come at a tough time, with Russia advancing and just lately claiming its first main victory since May in Avdiivka after months of bitter preventing.
Ukraine’s weapons provides have additionally been choked, with shortages of munitions together with its essential 90-mile-range, US-made Patriot air-defense missiles – making it much more necessary that the Ukrainian forces hit their targets.
The dramatic second was caught on video and follows a Kyiv declare yesterday that two Vladimir Putin Su-34 fighter-bombers and one Su-35 fighter, totalling greater than $100million, had been shot down
Two Russian planes had been shot down on Monday with a grainy picture shared by Ukraine’s Air Force Chief purporting to indicate the second the wreckage of 1 fell from the sky
Dramatic photos have emerged over current days displaying what Ukraine says is Russian fighter jets and a reconnaissance aircraft plummeting out of the sky over the east of the nation.
Posting on Telegram, Ukraine’s Air Force Commander used the success as a warning to Russian troops: ‘I counsel the occupiers to see their relations earlier than every flight, simply in case. Because who is aware of, he can be fortunate or not this time.’
He added that Russia could be smart to rethink its ‘airborne meat assaults’ given the extent of destruction to its air drive in such a short while span.
‘Russian planes proceed to fall!’ the Ukrainian protection ministry mentioned.
Ten days earlier than, Ukraine shot down two Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers and one Su-35 fighter within the skies over japanese Ukraine, in response to the air drive chief.
Russian FighterBomber Telegram channel initially claimed there have been ‘no losses’ and that the Ukrainians had been ‘mendacity’.
Other Russian channels ‘confirmed that the Ukrainian navy shot down not less than one Russian Su-35 plane’.
‘On the morning of February 17, 2024, within the japanese (sector), models of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed three enemy plane without delay – two Su-34 fighter-bombers and one Su-35 fighter,’ Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on Telegram.
‘This is our land, and our sky!’ he declared victoriously, including: ‘There can be extra…do not grasp round!’
He was true to his phrase, with successive strikes reportedly seeing one other Su-25 and 5 extra Su-34s obliterated.
The destruction of the 9 jets would symbolize a loss to Moscow of superior warplanes value in extra of £341m in complete.
Ukrainian forces have shot down seven Su-34 bombers over the previous 10 days (file photograph)
Mykola Oleshchuk mentioned that two Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers and one Su-35 fighter (file photograph) within the skies over japanese Ukraine
On February 23, Ukraine dealt yet one more big blow to Moscow‘s forces, downing a £270m ($330m) Russian spy aircraft over Krasnodar.
Video confirmed big plumes of smoke billowing from the wreckage after the A-50U reconnaissance aircraft’s wing was reportedly torn off by successful from a revamped S-200 Soviet-era long-range air defence missile – a staggering blow to Russia‘s already diminishing assortment.
Ten crew had been reported to have been discovered lifeless on the crash website, although the planes usually carry 15 that means the dying toll may very well be increased.
It got here down in Russia’s Krasnodar area, the place Putin’s official Black Sea residence and personal £1billion palace are situated.
Russia now solely has six of its state-of-the artwork spy planes remaining after one other of the dear plane was blasted out of the sky final month, in response to Ukraine.
Russian sources initially blamed pleasant hearth however Ukrainian sources mentioned the A-50U was downed ‘as a part of a joint operation of [Kyiv’s] Main Intelligence Directorate and the Ukrainian Air Force’.
On February 23, Ukraine dealt yet one more big blow to Moscow ‘s forces, downing a $330m Russian A-50 spy aircraft (file picture)
Video confirmed smoke billowing from the crash website of a spy aircraft in Krasnodar, western Russia
The lack of the A-50U – the second in six weeks – will imply a extreme blow to Putin’s aerial reconnaissance, harming Russia’s means to pinpoint targets for missile strikes and monitor Ukrainian battlefield deployments.
Some accounts say it was flying over the Sea of Azov when it was hit.
It got here down close to Primorsko-Akhtarsk.
Ukraine’s GUR navy intelligence directorate mentioned: ‘The final flight of the A-50U befell on February 23, 2024 at 15:50 from the Akhtubinsk airfield and was supposed to hold out terrorist duties of the aggressor state of Russia close to the settlements of Primorsko-Akhtarsk – Zernograd.
‘An abrupt cease of the Bumblebee radar complicated’s work…was recorded by GUR’s radio technical intelligence stations at 18:45.
‘The hearth harm of the modernised A-50U of the Russian Air Force was confirmed by the radio interception of the dialog of the Su-35 cowl crew.
‘One of the Russian pilots experiences on the radio that he noticed the work of air protection, flash and explosions.’
‘Congratulations to the occupiers on the Defender of the Fatherland day,’ mentioned a sardonic Ukrainian aroid drive commander General Mykola Oleshchuk.
Since receiving superior Western air defence programs, Kyiv has been capable of deploy these weapons to pose an growing menace to Russian aviation.
The successes come because the warfare grinds into its third 12 months, with Kyiv persevering with to foyer for help as Moscow holds its line and achieved current positive aspects within the east of the nation.
