WAR IN UKRAINE
Russian air force suffers heavy losses north of Ukraine border
Ukraine claimed to have shot down an Su-35 fighter, one of Russia’s most advanced aircraft
SEFA KARACAN/GETTY IMAGES
Russia has suffered its worst loss of aviation in a single day since the first month of the war, with five aircraft said to have been shot down as they approached the Ukrainian border.
Three Russian helicopters, an Su-34 bomber and one Su-35 fighter were destroyed over the Russian town of Klintsy in the Bryansk region of Russia, about 30 miles from the border, according to Yuriy Ihnat, a spokesman for Ukraine’s air force.
“The enemy attacked Ukraine from the north. There were two helicopters that formed a barrier and were accompanying the strike group, Su-34 and Su-35, some of their newest aircraft,” Ihnat said, adding that the aircraft were preparing to “launch guided missiles on our towns, as they do every day”. He said
