Ukrainian Forces Shoot Down 3 Russian Su-34 Fighter Planes, Netherlands Prepares to Deliver F-16 Aircraft to Ukraine

Ukrainian forces announced that they shot down 3 Russian Su-34 multi-role bomber fighter planes in the south of the country.

Media reports stated that the coastal city of Odessa in southern Ukraine was attacked by several Russian drones yesterday evening, Friday, and Ukrainian forces also shot them down in a separate attack.

Local media reported several explosions, which the reports initially attributed to the use of Ukrainian air defenses during the operation to shoot down the planes.

Commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Mykola Oleshchuk, said that the Su-34 planes were shot down at noon on Friday.

In his announcement, Oleshchuk also referred to a message bearing the phrase “Die, bitches” found on one of the downed Russian drones.

“Great idea! This is our response,” he added on Telegram.

In his evening speech yesterday, President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked the soldiers who shot down Russian fighters in the Kherson region, and said, “It is a gain for our Air Force and the direct work of the Odessa Air Missile Defense Battalion. Thank you, guys.”

Zelensky added, “I hope that every Russian pilot will be well aware of our response to every Russian killer… No one will go unpunished.”

The Kremlin did not comment on the Ukrainian allegations, but a Russian war blogger named “Fighter Bomber” stated that there were losses likely due to the Patriot air defense missile system.

Another war blogger on his “Military Informant” channel on Telegram also reported “casualties among Su-34 bombers,” which were said to have been used to drop glide bombs on a Ukrainian bridge on the Russian-controlled eastern bank of the Dnipro River.

The Netherlands prepares to deliver F-16 aircraft to Ukraine

Zelensky also said that he spoke with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte about the delivery of F-16 aircraft to Ukraine, and they also discussed approving a new support package from the European Union worth 50 billion euros for Ukraine.

The Netherlands announced on Friday that it was preparing to deliver 18 American-made F-16 fighter planes that it had pledged to give to Ukraine, without specifying a delivery date.

The Dutch government said that “some aircraft require significant maintenance,” and other standards must be met before the aircraft are delivered to Kiev.

Last November, the Netherlands sent 5 F-16 fighter planes to Romania, which will be used to train Ukrainian pilots.

Denmark and the Netherlands announced last August that, with US approval, they would provide up to 61 aircraft once the training of Ukrainian pilots was completed.

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2023-12-23 07:39:54