Ukrainian officials have said that three Russian aircraft have been destroyed in the last 24 hours, but Newsweek has yet to verify this.
The Air Force Command of Ukraine's Armed Forces said in a post on Facebook this morning that it had destroyed two Russian Su-34 fighter bombers and an Su-35 jet on the morning of February 17. The location where they were destroyed is not revealed in the post, nor the method of their destruction. Newsweek has contacted the Armed Forces of Ukraine for more details via email.
Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk also announced the news on Telegram, writing: "On the morning of February 17, 2024, in the eastern sector, units of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed three enemy aircraft at once - two Su-34 fighter-bombers and one Su-35 fighter. Nothing will stop us! Thank you, warriors!"
Moscow has not confirmed or denied the losses. Newsweek has contacted the Russian Defense Ministry for comment via email. Russia does not usually publish a tally of its own weapons losses, and does not typically respond to Ukraine's figures.
Ukrainian forces have destroyed 332 enemy aircraft and 325 Russian helicopters since the war began, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as per state information and news agency UKRInform.
Su-34 bomber aircraft are a twin-engine, two-seater jets that have been touted as among the most sophisticated in Moscow's war arsenal. A report by Airforce Technology said they have been used by Russia since 2014 and can carry 180 rounds of ammunition for a 30mm GSh-301 gun, which has a maximum fire rate of 1,500 rounds per minute. The jets can also carry a range of missiles "including air-to-air, air-to-surface, anti-ship and anti-radiation missiles, guided and unguided bombs, and rockets."
The Su-35 is a single-seat, multi-role fighter jet that can carry air-to-air, air-to-surface and anti-ship missiles. Both planes were developed by Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi.
Reuters has reported that the loss of the three planes would amount to a loss of $100 million for Moscow.
In December, Ukrainian military forces destroyed three Su-34 planes in Kherson, southern Ukraine. It was reported at the time that U.S.-supplied Patriot air-defence systems brought down the three jets. Ukrainian aviation expert Valeriy Romanenko said that Russia "didn't quite take into account that the Patriot has a range of 160km [100 miles] for aerodynamic targets."
While Ukraine continues its campaign to repel Russian forces, lawmakers in the U.S. are at an impasse on the latest round of aid earmarked for Ukraine. The Senate passed a foreign aid package worth $60 billion for Ukraine, Israel and other allies earlier this week. However, its progression to the House of Representatives has been blocked by Speaker Mike Johnson who wants additional measures to support the influx of migration at the U.S.-Mexico border.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
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Aliss Higham is a Newsweek reporter based in Glasgow, Scotland. Her focus is reporting on issues across the U.S., including ... Read more
