Russia downs MiG-29, several Ukrainain UAVs over Donetsk
Russia continues to thwart Ukraine's offensives in the West as evidence shows heavy losses sustained by Kiev's armed forces.
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A Serbian army MiG-29 jet fighter performs during a military exercise, at Batajnica Air Base near Belgrade, Serbia, April 22, 2023 (AP)
The Russian air defense force managed to shoot down one Ukrainian MiG-29 fighter jet close to Platonovka of the Donetsk People's Republic, in addition to numerous Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles, the Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday.
Kiev's forces continued waging failed offensive operations in South Donetsk and Zaporozhye and near Artyomovsk, also known as Bakhmut.
Teo columns of Kiev's armored vehicles were also hit in the Zaporozhye region, Moscow noted, with three attempted offensives failing in the area.
In total, near the DPR and Zaporozhye, Ukraine lost 300 servicemen, nine tanks, including four leopard tanks, 11 infantry fighting vehicles, 14 armored fighting vehicles, six motor vehicles, and one French Cezar self-propelled artillery system.
M2 Breadly bey bey pic.twitter.com/klAZKMbgRw
— ZOKA (@200_zoka) June 10, 2023
Meanwhile, close to Artyomvsk, Ukraine lost some 230 servicemen, two armored fighting vehicles, five motor vehicles, and two D-30 howitzers.
Ukraine also lost 65 soldiers, one armored personnel carrier, two pick-up trucks, and one M777 artillery system in the Lugansk People's Republic and Kharkov.
Kherson, on the other hand, saw Kiev losing 40 soldiers, two motor vehicles, and one Akatsiya self-propelled artillery system.
In light of the Ukrainian attacks on Russian positions, Moscow intercepted two Storm Shadow cruise missiles and 10 HIMARS MLRS.
The Russian defense ministry revealed that since the start of the Ukraine war, Kiev has lost "441 airplanes, 238 helicopters, 4,563 unmanned aerial vehicles, 424 air defense missile systems, 9,841 tanks, and other armored fighting vehicles, 1,122 fighting vehicles equipped with MLRS, 5,071 field artillery cannons, and mortars, as well as 10,856 special military motor vehicles."
The major news of Russia downing a MiG-29 comes after reports showed Friday that US and German equipment alike were not too adequate for the ongoing war.
Russian bombardment took down Bradley heavy infantry fighting vehicles less than a month after striking the renowned Patriot missile system donated to Ukraine.
It is reported that the attacks were carried out using Kornet ATGMs and KA-52 helicopters, both equipped with thermal imaging devices, as well as pre-laid anti-tank mines and artillery fire guided by the usage of drones to correct shots.
Up to 7 M2A2 Bradley heavy infantry fighting vehicles (IFVs) and 4 Leopard-2 tanks were destroyed, damaged, or abandoned during a failed Ukrainian attack on the Zaporozhye front as Kiev's forces suffer serious blows on the frontline. Multiple other vehicles including a mine sweeper suffered the same fate.
At least 2 of the Leopards featured in the footage were of the most modern variant, namely the Leopard 2A6.
The German Leopard tanks were also handed to Kiev early on in the year, though they were only seen Thursday.
The footage seems to coincide with previously reported lower-quality photos and videos that were released Thursday and featured some of the destroyed equipment dating back to June 7, showcased in higher-quality videos released Friday.
German and US equipment prove not to be long-lasting for Ukraine. Ukraine only has two Patriot air defense systems on its soil, one provided by the US and the other given jointly by Germany and the Netherlands. Just one of these two being out of service would greatly hinder Kiev's ability to defend itself as Russia takes the missile attack route in the war.
The United States first sent the IFVs to Ukraine earlier in the year. The Pentagon announced in early January a military assistance package for Ukraine worth $3.75 billion includes 50 Bradley fighting vehicles, 500 TOW anti-tank missiles, and 250,000 rounds of 22mm ammunition.
Additionally, Berlin was reported to have intended to supply Ukraine with 20 Marder infantry combat vehicles, 30 Leopard 1 tanks, up to 200 reconnaissance drones, Gepard anti-aircraft vehicles, extra IRIS-T anti-aircraft missiles, artillery rounds, and transporters.
This is going on amid fierce fighting in Zaporozhye, with the chairman of the We Are Together with Russia movement, Vladimir Rogov, the Ukrainian military sustained huge casualties in its attempted night attacks in the Zaporozhye area towards Tokmak.
