War in Ukraine: the black streak continues for the Russian air force, eleven planes shot down in just ten days

Des avions militaires russes le 27 août 2019. (illustration) EPA – MAXIM SHIPENKOV

Ce mardi 27 février 2024, le ministère de la Défense ukrainien a annoncé que deux nouveaux avions russes ont été abattus. Ils s'ajoutent aux autres déjà évincer des airs ces dix derniers jours.

If Ukraine finds itself in difficulty in the conflict between it and Russia, the dark streak continues for the Russian aviation. Two aircraft from Vladimir Putin's army are missing after being shot down by Volodymyr Zelensky's soldiers, according to announcements from the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense on Tuesday.

And eleven

If the fights are tough on the ground, they are just as tough in the sky. In just ten days, this would be the eleventh aircraft of Russian forces to be shot down by Ukraine, according to the American media Newsweek.

It would still be two Su-34 bombers which were targeted and then destroyed, reports the magazine Géo. If Russia seems to be gaining the upper hand in this conflict which has lasted for more than two years now, these losses are not without consequences.

Indeed, all these downed planes represent a huge shortfall for the Kremlin's armed forces: namely fewer crews, but also cost the country extremely dearly. Although Ukraine lacks financial and military resources, Russia can hardly make up for these losses because to rebuild these planes, it needs Western electronic components, explains Géo.

"We will eat the Russian bear in small pieces"

Already on February 21, the commander of the Ukrainian air force had affirmed that his troops destroyed a Russian plane. 

This was the seventh plane neutralized in just a few days. "The crew of the Su- 34 joins our section 'Eternal flight, brothers!'. We will eat the Russian bear in small pieces. Together until victory", declared the Ukrainian soldier, quoted by Géo. This announcement was made by Volodymyr Zelensky's army via a press release broadcast on a Telegram channel.

In less than a week, four other Su-34 fighter-bombers but also two Su-35s were targeted and completely neutralized by the army of the Ukrainian Air Force, reported Forbes.