Two Ukrainian MiG-29 warplanes and one drone were downed by Russian air defense systems in the Kharkiv region.
Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov said on April 17 that Russian air defense systems shot down two Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jets in Kharkiv province and one unmanned aircraft downed near Pvalograd.
Konashenkov also confirmed that Russian precision air-to-surface missiles hit Ukrainian ammunition and fuel depots near the city of Barvenkovo, also in Kharkiv (in northeastern Ukraine), and the city of Dobropolye, in the province. Donetsk (in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine).
According to Konashenkov, since the start of the military operation in Ukraine on February 24, Russian forces have destroyed 136 fighter planes, 471 drones, 249 air defense systems, 2,308 tanks and other armored vehicles, 254 multiple rocket launcher systems, 998 cannons and 2,171 special military vehicles.
However, there is currently no information or reaction from the Ukrainian side to Russian MOD claims.
MiG-29 is one of the main fighters of the Ukrainian Air Force. Before the war with Russia broke out, the Ukrainian Air Force had 210 military aircraft, including 98 fighter jets.
But if the news is true then the loss of two more MiG-29s can be caused Ukraine to continue to shrink its air combat capacity.
Ukraine recently asked Moldova to sell or give MiG-29s in service with its air force to Kyiv but they refused to avoid causing tension in relations with Russia. Moldova currently has 6 old but operational MiG-29s.
Besides two MiG-29 Russian defence ministry also claimed a Su-25 aircraft and eleven drones also shoot down by the Russian army.
“Russian air defense capabilities shot down three Ukrainian combat aircraft: two MiG-29 fighters near the community of Izyum and a Su-25 plane near Avdeyevka,” Igor Konashenkov spokesman said.
“The Russian forces also shot down 11 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near the communities of Klimovo, Nevelskoye, Novotroitskoye, Izyum, Panteleimonovka, Sladkovodnoye and Yasnoye. They also intercepted 10 large-caliber shells fired by Ukrainian multiple launch rocket systems against the community of Chernobayevka,” the general said.
“Throughout the night, the Russian artillery systems delivered strikes against 315 Ukrainian military targets to destroy 18 command posts, 22 artillery batteries, an OSA-AKM surface-to-air missile system, and also 275 strongholds and areas of enemy manpower amassment,” the spokesman said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised address on February 24 that in response to a request by the heads of the Donbass republics he had made a decision to carry out a special military operation in Ukraine. The Russian leader stressed that Moscow had no plans of occupying Ukrainian territories, noting that the operation was aimed at the denazification and demilitarization of Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry reassured that Russian troops are not targeting Ukrainian cities, but are limited to surgically striking and incapacitating Ukrainian military infrastructure. There are no threats whatsoever to the civilian population.