Ukraine announced on last Friday it had downed three Russian Su-34s, though the weapons system used has not been disclosed. Some military-themed Telegram channels suggested the possible use of the Patriot anti-aircraft missile system.
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Note: Su-34 [NATO codename “Fullback] aircraft is essentially a two-seat air-to-ground adaptation of Su-27 “Fulcrum.” They are launch platforms of guided aerial bombs & Kh-59 missiles, which the Russians use to attack Ukraine and other areas of Ukraine.
The commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Mykola Oleschuk, said the operation was payback for an earlier Russian drone attack on which one of the drones was written “Die Bitch” in Russia. In a Telegram post, he wrote: “Great idea! Here’s our answer! Today, at noon, in the Southern sector – minus three Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers!”
He added: “Eternal flight, ‘brothers’!”
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Ihnat added that since the downing of the aircraft there had been fewer guided bomb attacks in the Kherson region but said more anti-aircraft weapons were still needed by Ukraine.
“The Air Force can conduct such operations in different sectors,” he said. “The only question is that there should be more of these systems, and this issue is being discussed as part of our recently created air defense coalition.”
Russian forces continue to bombard Kherson region with artillery – four people and nine others were wounded including one child.”
Kremlin forces fired 71 shells at Kherson from Saturday to Sunday morning, hitting the city centre, residential areas, medical and educational institutions and “critical infrastructure facilities.” the region's governor Oleksandr Prokudin wrote on Telegram.
President Zelensky condemned what he called “brutal terrorist shelling deliberately targeting life-sustaining civilian infrastructure and ordinary streets folks.” “Unfortunately there are fatalities. My condolences to the families,” the president added in a message on social media.
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