Russia’s Kommersant newspaper reported that two Russian fighter jets and two helicopters were shot down on Saturday near the Ukrainian border, in what would be a heavy blow by Kiev if responsibility is confirmed.
The popular independent daily focusing on economic news said on its website that two Su-34 and Su-35 fighter jets and two Mi-8 helicopters formed an offensive situation and were “downed almost simultaneously” in an ambush in Russia’s Bryansk region bordering Ukraine. .
“According to preliminary data…the fighters were supposed to launch a missile and bomb attack on targets in the Chernihiv region of Ukraine, and the helicopters were there to support them, among other tasks, including rescuing the Sukhoi crews if they were shot down,” the newspaper said.
Russia’s Tass news agency said a Sukhoi Su-34 warplane had crashed in the area, but did not say why.
The agency quoted an official of the emergency services as saying that a fire broke out in the helicopter’s engine before it crashed near Klintsy, about 1 km away.
About 40 km from the border.
While the agency did not mention anything about the Sukhoi-35 fighter or any other helicopter.
It exploded while flying
But a clip posted on Russia’s pro-war Voyene Osvidometel channel on Telegram showed a helicopter exploding while flying at high altitude, veering off course and then plummeting to the ground, engulfed in flames.
The comments accompanying the video clip stated that a missile shot down the Russian-made Mi-8 helicopter. Reuters could not verify the authenticity of the video.
Kommersant did not provide any evidence that the four planes were shot down, but some pro-war bloggers also confirmed the news.
The Russian Defense Ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Kommersant confirmed that all crew members were killed.
There was no official reaction from Ukraine, which usually refuses to comment on any attacks inside Russia.
But Mykhailo Podolyak, advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, posted a tweet describing the incident as “justice … and an immediate reaction.”
Bombing a Russian factory
Later on Saturday, Bryansk Governor Alexander Bogomaz said a Ukrainian drone had bombed a food products factory in Starodub, close to the Ukrainian border, destroying its roof.
Bogumaz added on the Telegram application that the attack did not result in deaths or injuries.
The incident occurred two days after Bogumaz announced a drone attack targeting an oil storage facility in the area.
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2023-05-13 23:57:39
