Ukraine's armed forces have shot down seven Russian fighter jets in the space of a week, according to Kyiv's military.
The commander of Ukraine's air force, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, said in a statement on Wednesday that Kyiv had destroyed an Su-34 fighter-bomber.
"One down, we keep working. The crew of the Su-34 joins our section 'Eternal flight, brothers!'," said Oleshchuk in a post on Telegram. "We will eat the Russian bear in small pieces. Together to victory! P.S. Rumors say that I have been in a bad mood lately. I have no reason to be! It's just great with this kind of combat work!"
It comes two days after Ukraine's Ministry of Defense said Ukraine destroyed two Russian jets—an Su-34 fighter-bomber and an Su-35S fighter jet.
"Russian planes continue to fall! This morning, defenders of the sky shot down two Russian planes in the eastern direction—a Su-34 fighter-bomber and a Su-35 fighter," the ministry said on Monday. "In 3 days, Ukraine destroyed 6 Russian jets."
Oleshchuk previously said that Ukraine destroyed four Russian military aircraft over the weekend.
"Units of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed three enemy aircraft at once—two Su-34 fighter-bombers and one Su-35 fighter," Oleshchuk said on Telegram on February 17.
He said Kyiv shot down another Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber on the morning of February 18.
Newsweek couldn't independently verify Ukraine's claims about the destroyed military jets and has contacted Russia's Defense Ministry for comment by email.
Ukrainian Air Force spokesperson Yurii Ihnat said on Tuesday that Russia has been deploying aircraft less frequently after its recent string of losses.
"Our experience suggests that after Russian planes are downed and destroyed, the occupiers do not dare come closer—this is the case across the northern, southern, and eastern fronts," Ihnat said on national TV, Ukrainska Pravda reported. "The closer the aircraft armed with guided bombs approach, the farther those bombs can reach into our defenses."
Moscow understands that its forces are within the reach of Ukrainian anti-aircraft defenses and doesn't "act as boldly as before," said Ihnat.
Kyiv's military said in an update on Wednesday that Moscow has so far lost 338 aircraft since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
The General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces also said Russia had lost 1,130 troops in a single day. Newsweek couldn't independently verify Kyiv's figures.
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Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Isabel van Brugen is a Newsweek Reporter based in Kuala Lumpur. Her focus is reporting on the Russia-Ukraine war. Isabel ... Read more
