Ukrainian forces are said to have shot down a Russian fighter bomber aircraft in the early hours of Thursday morning, Joe Barnes writes.
“Today, Feb 29, is a date that occurs once every four years but it is already a familiar day for Russians with the loss of another plane. Minus Su-34 in the Eastern direction,” Mykola Oleshchuk, an air force commander, wrote on the Telegram messaging app.
“Thanks for the work! Victory on earth is forged in heaven!”
The Russian jet, which is used to drop laser-guided bombs or fire air-launched missiles, was the tenth aircraft downed near the front line in the last 11 days.
Ukraine has not confirmed what weapon is behind its recent successes in bringing down Russian aircraft, including an A-50 spy plane over the Sea of Azov.
However, it does indicate that Kyiv’s forces could be using Western air-defence systems more aggressively close to the front lines. The Ukrainians are known to be using a US Patriot missile battery in tandem with a Soviet radar to target aircraft.
The Telegraph could not independently verify the claims but Fighter Bomber, a Russian Telegram channel linked to its air force, appeared to confirm the Ukrainian account.
Emily Foster is a globe-trotting journalist based in the UK. Her articles offer readers a global perspective on international events, exploring complex geopolitical issues and providing a nuanced view of the world’s most pressing challenges.
