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Su-34 in training
The Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed 10 enemy aircraft and missiles in one day on Monday, said Yuriy Ignat, a representative of the Armed Forces Air Force Command.
According to him, three fighters were shot down: Su-34, Su-35, Su-30. One of these episodes was videotaped by several witnesses.
The video shows a Su-27 fighter falling in a flat corkscrew, others a moment of collision with the ground and two parachutes in the sky.
According to eyewitnesses and military statements, it was a Su-34 – a Russian front-line bomber built on the basis of a Soviet Su-27 fighter.
He fell in the area of Russian-occupied Balaklia. Russian telegram channels confirming the loss of the plane write that the crew was evacuated.
The Command of the Air Force of Ukraine has published a video , which, according to the military, shows the work of the SAM “Buk M1”, which shot down the plane.
This medium-range complex is capable, unlike small portable missiles such as “Arrow” or “Stinger”, to hit targets at an altitude of several kilometers.
Bombers, such as the Su-34 or Su-24 used by the Russian military, often fly at high altitudes to avoid damage from light portable systems. Many of them have already been handed over to Ukraine.
What does this mean for the war?
Such aircraft, unlike fire support helicopters and attack aircraft, do not need to descend closer to the ground.
The situation with the downing of the Su-34 is important and indicative for understanding the state of air defense in Ukraine.
Although the Russian military claims to have gained dominance in the air over Ukraine, these amateur videos with the downed Su-34 show that this is not the case – the bombers shoot down not even in the depths of Ukrainian positions. And right above the front line, because the pilots manage to eject in Russian-controlled territory.
If Ukrainians shoot down planes over the line of contact, it means that it is problematic for Russians to fly far because of the work of Ukraine’s air defense. And this is a very important nuance for understanding her ability.
According to experts, anti-aircraft systems such as “Buk” can maneuver, changing positions to avoid the impression of the enemy. And they continue to work.
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