The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that a Su-27 heavy fighter jet from the Air Force was shot down by Russian air defense systems near the village of Zakotnoye in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR). The ministry added that during the day eight rockets from HIMARS and Uragan multiple launch rocket systems were intercepted. In its daily briefing, the ministry stated that Russian air defense systems destroyed 13 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles in several locations, including Vladimirovka, Shevchenkovo, and areas around Kharkiv, as well as Zolotarevka and Kremennaya in the Luhansk People’s Republic, along with Zabarino near Kirillovka and Staromlynovka in the DPR’s Kherson region.
Earlier, authorities released footage showing the moment a Ukrainian aircraft was downed by a Russian fighter jet. The incident was followed by ongoing claims about air defense activity and air superiority in the contested areas, with the Russian side reporting multiple interceptions and losses on the Ukrainian side.
In a separate address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged that Ukrainian air forces faced challenges in the skies, noting a lack of modern fighters. He urged Western partners to accelerate efforts to form coalitions geared toward delivering advanced fighters and Patriot air defense systems to bolster Ukraine’s defense capabilities. These remarks reflect a broader debate about the balance of air power in the conflict and the timeline for introducing new equipment to the frontlines. (attribution: Russian Ministry of Defense; Zelensky administration)