In a relentless 10-day onslaught, Ukraine has struck a heavy blow against Russia, destroying £690 million worth of military equipment, including ten fighter jets and a spy plane.
The heroic efforts of Ukrainian forces have dealt a devastating setback to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s military ambitions.
The most recent blow occurred today, with a chilling image capturing the moment one of two Su-34 fighter bombers was shot down, erupting into a fireball. Each Su-34, valued at $50 million (£39 million), is a top strike plane for the Russian air force.
The destruction of these feared aircraft, along with other successful strikes, has collectively cost Russia $100 million (£79 million) from its military budget.
Ukraine’s success extends to a total of 10 warplanes obliterated in the last ten days, including six Su-34s and two Sukhoi Su-35s with a combined value of $170 million (£134 million).
The Su-35s, designed as air-superiority fighters, were meant to defend the guided-missile launching Su-34s. Their destruction represents a significant blow to Russia’s aerial capabilities.
On February 24, Ukraine claimed to have shot down a $300 million (£236 million) Russian A-50 reconnaissance aircraft.
This state-of-the-art flying fortress was designed to detect air defences and coordinate targets for Russian jets. The loss of this crucial asset brings the total cost of Ukraine’s recent attacks to a staggering $870 million (£686 million).
Shocking footage surfaced, appearing to show the Russian A-50 ‘Mainstay’ plane being blasted from the sky in a fireball.
While Russia initially claimed it was friendly fire, Ukraine countered, asserting that they hit the plane with a revamped S-200 Soviet-era missile. The attack blew off the right wing of the reconnaissance aircraft, sending it into a death spiral over the Sea of Azov. Ten crew members were reportedly found dead at the crash site in Russia’s Krasnodar region.
In a separate incident on February 17, dramatic footage captured another Russian jet, believed to be a Su-34, being struck down and exploding into pieces.
Ukrainian sources claim the video shows the Su-34 crashing violently near the village of Dyakove in the Luhansk region of Ukraine, with thick, black smoke filling the sky.
