Ukrainian forces shot down two Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers and one Su-35 fighter plane in the skies over eastern Ukraine on Saturday, the country's air chief said.
“On the morning of February 17, 2024, units of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the east (sector) destroyed three enemy aircraft at once: two Su-34 fighter-bombers and one Su-35 fighter plane,” Mykola Oleshchuk wrote on Telegram.
Reuters could not verify the claim. If true, it would mean a loss to Moscow of advanced fighter jets totaling more than $100 million.
Since receiving advanced Western air defense systems, Kiev has been able to deploy these weapons to pose an increasing threat to Russian aviation in areas near the front lines as the two-year anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)