Russia claims downing Ukrainian fighter jet, helicopter, UAVs

MOSCOW

The Russian Defense Ministry on Wednesday claimed downing a Ukrainian Su-25 fighter jet, a Mi-8 helicopter, seven unmanned aerial vehicles and two missiles of the Smerch multiple rocket launcher systems last night.

Also, 133 command points, 169 firing positions of artillery and mortar batteries, 713 areas of manpower and military equipment were hit by Russian forces, ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said at a press briefing in Moscow.

Aviation forces hit nine tanks and infantry vehicles, a battery of BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket systems, six artillery pieces and mortars, 13 utility vehicles and one OSA-AKM air defense system, according to Konashenkov.

The Strategic Rocket Forces and artillery hit 24 units of weapons and military equipment, including a battery of 155-mm M777 howitzers, a 203-mm 2S7 Peony gun, a combat vehicle of the Grad multiple rocket launcher and two ammunition depots.

“In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, 185 aircraft, 129 helicopters, 1,077 unmanned aerial vehicles, 326 air defense systems, 3,363 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 457 multiple rocket launchers, 1,744 field artillery and mortar guns, as well as 3,329 units of special military vehicles have been destroyed,” Konashenkov said.

According to UN estimates, at least 4,113 civilians have been killed and 4,916 injured in Ukraine since the war began on Feb. 24, with the true toll believed to be much higher.

Over 6.8 million people have fled to other countries, while more than 7.7 million have been internally displaced, according to the UN refugee agency.

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