Reports from the Russian defense ministry have revealed that the Russian military has successfully intercepted Western-made missiles, drones, and destroyed nine fighter jets operated by the Ukrainian Air Force in the past 24 hours.
During a regular briefing, the ministry shared footage of an airstrike on Ukraine’s Mirgorod airfield in Poltava Region, where seven Sukhoi Su-27 fighter jets were destroyed or damaged. The Iskander-M missile strike was responsible for this attack, with additional fighter jets being shot down by Russian air defenses later on.
In addition to the fighter jets, Russian forces intercepted multiple Western-supplied missiles, glide bombs, rockets, and unmanned aircraft, including a Turkish-made Bayraktar TB2 drone. This incident marks a significant blow to the Ukrainian air arm, as noted by military observer David Axe.
As Ukraine requests US-manufactured F-16 jets to combat Russian air superiority, concerns arise about the capacity to train Ukrainian pilots to effectively use these new aircraft. Western officials believe F-16s could potentially change the dynamics of the conflict and pose a threat to Russia.
Moscow, however, warns that continued arming of Ukraine by Western nations may escalate the conflict. The situation remains tense as the possibility of direct confrontation between Russia and the West looms.
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