The Russian Air Force today had one of its worst days since its invasion of Ukraine, losing three fullback fighters at once.
Image: United Aircraft Corporation
This morning, Russian warplanes launched an attack on the western side of the Dnipro River in the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine. However, they were confronted with the USmade MIM104 Patriot missile system.
The Kiev government soon reported that three Sukhoi Su34 Fullback fighters, the attack and bomber version of the legendary Su27 Flanker, were successfully shot down while attempting to attack the country.
The Su34 is the fighter aircraft most often used by Russia to attack Ukraine because, unlike the Su25 or the Tupolev heavy bombers, it has the characteristics of a bomber while being very fast and maneuverable.
Likewise, it was the most frequently shot down fighter aircraft by Ukraine; 24 fighter jets were shot down today.
2/2: Fighterbomber posted this video on his TG channel to mourn the loss of the Su34 crews.
I think you have to care about dead katsaps who also bomb civilians to arouse emotions.#OSINT #Counteroffensive #UkraineRussiaWar #UkraineWar #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/G0NOgdyAlY
— OSINT (Uri) 🇺🇸 🇬🇧 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@UKikaski) December 22, 2023
Shortly after Ukraine reported the shootdown, an image of contrails from fired Patriot missiles emerged, and the Fighterbomber Telegram channel, run by a retired Russian military pilot, confirmed the loss of a plane and its crew after posting the text in the Plural had changed.
He emphasized that a few days ago it was brought to his attention that in the same region another Su34 fighter jet was almost shot down after it was detected (illuminated) by enemy radars and could not easily evade them, although he had not fired any rockets.
Later today, images emerged of a crew being rescued by a Mi8 helicopter, suggesting that at least two of the mission's six pilots managed to eject.
/6. Russians publish photos of one of the landing sites of ejected Russian pilots. This crew is said to have survived. pic.twitter.com/Sggq5YV3vE
— Special Kherson Cat 🐈🇺🇦 (@bayraktar_1love) December 22, 2023
The shooting down of the three fighters coincides with Japan's announcement that it would move part of its Patriot batteries, which serve as a line of defense against North Korea, to Ukraine, strengthening the invaded country's defenses.
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