Russia’s armed forces destroyed four planes, four helicopters, three drones and a Ukrainian landing aircraft in the last 24 hours near the island of Zmiinyi (Snake) in the Black Sea, the Ministry of Russian Defense.
“In the course of the night, over Zmiinyi Island, Russian air defense assets shot down two more Su-25 bombers and a Ukrainian Air Force Mi-24 helicopter, as well as a Bayraktar-TB2 ‘drone’ in the vicinity of the city of Odessa. “, said Russian army spokesman Igor Konashenkov.
The Russian military command added that during the last day “four Ukrainian planes, four helicopters, including three landing helicopters with troops on board, three Bayraktar-TB2 planes and one landing aircraft were shot down in this area”.
The Russian Defense Ministry has hinted that Ukrainian forces attempted a failed landing on the small island on Saturday afternoon and early this morning.
Several Russian media outlets have suggested that the Ukrainian attack was an attempt to spoil the Victory over Nazi Germany Day celebrations, perhaps the most important official celebration in Russia.
The island, 143 kilometers from the port city, was taken over by the Russian Navy on February 24, the same day that Russia launched its so-called “special military operation” in Ukraine.
Konashenkov also reported Russian air strikes in other parts of the country, noting that the Aerospace Force destroyed command of a motorized brigade in the Kharkiv region and a communications center at the Chernovoglinskoye military airfield in the town of Artsyz, near Moldova.
In addition, the Aerospace Force sank a Ukrainian Tarantul-class corvette in the vicinity of Odessa, according to NATO classification.
Tactical and assault aviation also attacked 130 Ukrainian military targets, including three command posts, two artillery batteries, two arsenals and 123 fortified positions.
According to Konashenkov, 420 Ukrainian servicemen died as a result of these attacks, and 55 pieces of combat equipment were destroyed.
Russian artillery attacked 56 command posts, 32 artillery batteries, 415 fortified posts and two S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems near the town of Korotich in the Kharkiv region.
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