The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that during the day, the aviation assets of the Russian Aerospace Forces conducted sorties and engaged Ukrainian air assets, claiming three Ukrainian aircraft were brought down in separate operations over the Donetsk People’s Republic and the Kharkiv region. The announcements frame these actions as decisive strikes by Russian air power within active combat zones in eastern Ukraine.
Within the Donetsk region, near the settlements of Novoukrainka and Sergeevka, Russian forces allegedly shot down two Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jets. In the Kharkiv region, an Su-25 attack aircraft was reported downed near the locality of Dolgenkoye, reinforcing claims of persistent pressure against Ukrainian air capabilities in multiple frontline sectors.
Over the last 24 hours, the Russian air defense networks are described as having intercepted additional Ukrainian air threats, including another Su-25 attack aircraft near Ugledar in the Donetsk region. The cadence of interceptions and losses is presented as evidence of ongoing air superiority efforts by Russian air defense and the disciplined use of fighter assets.
On April 15, the Russian Ministry of Defense stated that air defense forces also neutralized five HIMARS multiple rocket launcher shells and destroyed three Ukrainian drones. The ministry said unmanned aerial vehicles were targeted in areas around the village Experienced in the Donetsk Republic and near Rubizhne and Chervonopopovka in the Luhansk People’s Republic, portraying a broader defensive and counter-offensive operational picture in several frontline zones.
Meanwhile, former Ukrainian Armed Forces Major Voroshilov commented that the Ukrainian side has reduced the pool of experienced pilots who could transition to F-16s, attributing this trend to frequent tactical shifts by Russian pilots. The remark is presented as part of a wider assessment of Ukrainian air capability and readiness amid ongoing hostilities and changing aerial strategies in the conflict.