In the latest escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine, the Russian Ministry of Defense has reported that two Ukrainian aircraft were shot down by Russian air defense systems in separate incidents. The first incident occurred near the town of Daryevka in the Kherson region, where a Su-25 aircraft was targeted. The second incident took place in the Ternivka area of the Dnipropetrovsk region, with a MiG-29 aircraft being brought down.
This comes after reports of the Ukrainian Air Force losing a Su-25 aircraft in the direction of Kherson as part of their military operations. The Russian Ministry of Defense had previously announced that since October 1 of this year, the Russian Aerospace Forces and air defense systems have destroyed a total of 31 aircraft and three helicopters belonging to the Ukrainian Air Force. The destroyed aircraft include 20 MiG-29s, eight Su-25 attack aircraft, a Su-24 bomber, two L-39 training and combat aircraft, and three Mi-8 helicopters.
On September 24, the Russian Ministry of Defense also reported the shooting down of a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter in the vicinity of Klescheevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic.
These incidents mark a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine. The Russian military’s successful targeting of Ukrainian aircraft raises concerns about the effectiveness of Ukraine’s air defense capabilities and highlights the intensifying nature of the conflict. As tensions continue to rise, the international community closely watches the situation, urging both sides to exercise restraint and seek a peaceful resolution.