MOSCOW (Agencies): In the latest development in the ongoing conflict, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Sunday that its forces successfully shot down two Ukrainian warplanes within the past 24 hours. According to the ministry, the downed aircraft include a Su-25 close air support plane and a Su-27 fighter, both targeted by Russian air defenses on the Ukrainian side of the frontline.
The Su-25 was reportedly taken down not far from Dnepropetrovsk (known as Dnepr in Ukraine), approximately 150km north of the frontline. The second aircraft, a Su-27 fighter, was destroyed in the vicinity of Krivoy Rog, situated about 140km west of Dnepropetrovsk, as confirmed by military officials.
The Russian military also claimed to have intercepted 14 missiles, including those fired from US-supplied HIMARS and Soviet-era Uragan missile systems, along with six Ukrainian anti-ship Neptune rockets. Additionally, the statement asserted that Russian forces eliminated 38 Ukrainian drones across the frontline in the past 24 hours.
The Defense Ministry’s report further asserted that since the commencement of the conflict in February 2022, Russia has successfully neutralized a total of 567 Ukrainian warplanes, 265 helicopters, and 10,526 drones. In October, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu previously mentioned the acquisition of new military systems, which purportedly enabled the downing of 24 Ukrainian planes within five days, although specific details were not provided.
According to sources cited by TASS news agency, the Russian forces utilized an S-400 Triumph air defense system in recent engagements. The advanced system, with a range of up to 400 km, was reported to be equipped with active homing heads and operated in conjunction with an A-50 long-range radar detection aircraft.