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On December 22, the Ukrainian military reported the destruction of three Russian Su-34s in the area of Krynki in the Kherson region. So far, Russian sources shared footage confirming the loss of at least one aircraft of this type.
According to preliminary reports, at least one Russian aircraft was shot down by the US-made MIM-104 Patriot air defense system. The fate of the crew is yet to be revealed.
The search and rescue team came to the area of the crash on the Mi-8 helicopter:
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The Ukrainian military, coordinated by NATO ‘advisers’ likely staged an air ambush, similar to the operation they launched near the Russian border seven months ago. On May 13, 2023, 4 Russian aircraft were shot down in Bryansk region by the Patriot air defense system from the territory of Ukraine. 11 Russian pilots were killed. LINK
The Ukrainian military can arrange such ambushes only in rare cases, so that Russian intelligence does not detect precious US air defense systems deployed near the front line. However, in the case of success they result in heavy losses to the Russian Aerospace Forces.
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The Ukrainian military is forced to constantly change the areas of deployment of foreign air defense systems. On December 5, a Su-24M tactical front-line bomber of the Russian Aerospace Forces was also reportedly shot down during its combat sortie over the Black Sea. According to Ukrainian reports, the bomber was shot down by the US-made MIM-104 Patriot then deployed near Odessa. LINK
Today’s Kiev victory is not a coincidence but a very timely operation. Today, the Dutch government announced preparations for the delivery of the first batch of 18 F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine.
However, the prime minister noted that Ukraine first needs to meet a number of other criteria, including requirements for personnel and infrastructure, for the delivery of the F-16 to take place.
The dominance of Russian aviation in the air was one of the main circumstances that disrupted Ukraine’s counteroffensive. Today, Kiev is trying its best to convince Western sponsors that parity with the Russian aerospace forces is possible. Attacks by Ukrainian UAV on Russian raer airfields and ambushes on aircraft with US air defense systems indicate that Russian aviation has become one the main target for the Ukrainian and NATO military. The Ukrainian military is trying to show the effectiveness of deployment of NATO air defense systems near the frontlines, in an attempt to improve their reputation ruined by several successful Russian strikes. In the case of supply of F-16 fighter jets, some their successes will become an important argument for Western warmongers in favor of continuing paying for the Ukrainian military and fueling the war.
