Russia scrambles warplanes to fend off US bombers from border
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Kherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo confirms that an attempted attack on Crimea by Ukraine has been thwarted by Russian air defense systems.
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A Mig-29 fighter jet Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023 (AP)
Russia scrambled MiG-29 and MiG-31 fighter jets on Sunday morning to ward off two US Air Force B-52N bombers from the Russian border across the Barents Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
"The Russian airspace control systems located a group aerial target over the Barents Sea waters approaching the State border of the Russian Federation. To identify the aerial target and prevent a violation of the State border of the Russian Federation, the on-duty air defense units MiG-29 and MiG-31 fighter jets were scrambled," read the Ministry statement.
The US strategic bombers turned around and raced away from the Russian border as the Russian fighter jets got closer, it maintained.
The Russian Defense Ministry added that the Russian fighter jets completed the operation strictly in agreement with international regulations for the use of airspace above neutral waters and in accordance with security procedures.
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Villages of Rozivka, Pishchane Nizhne captured
Up to 1,700 Ukrainian forces were eliminated in the last 24 hours of conflict by the Russian military, which also captured Pishchane Nizhne in the Kharkov Region and Rozivka in the Lugansk People's Republic.
In a daily news bulletin, the Ministry relayed, "The West group of troops has liberated the villages of Rozivka in the Lugansk People’s Republic and Pishchane Nizhne in the Kharkov Region by successful military action and have taken more advantageous positions."
In the West battlegroup's area, Ukraine may have lost as many as 520 fighters, while up to 510 Ukrainian soldiers were annihilated by the South group, along with two ammo stores and an armored battle vehicle.
The US-made M109 Paladin 155mm self-propelled howitzer and the UK-made L119 105mm howitzer, among other weaponry, were destroyed by the Center battlegroup in the course of repelling seven Ukrainian counterattacks.
In the Kharkov Region, the North group of soldiers annihilated up to 145 troops while repelling four Ukrainian counterattacks. Up to 115 men were also eliminated in the East battlegroup's territory.
Earlier this month, Russian President Vladimir Putin stated, during a joint press conference in Moscow, that Russia aims to achieve a comprehensive resolution to the Ukraine conflict, rather than merely agreeing to a ceasefire or maintaining a freeze on hostilities.
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Crimea attack thwarted
Kherson Region Governor Vladimir Saldo confirmed on Sunday that Russian air defense systems have shot down two ATACMS tactical ballistic missiles over Kherson following an attempt by Ukraine to attack Crimea.
He added that no casualties have been reported.
Saldo took to Telegram to announce that "Russian air defense shot down two high-precision ATACMS missiles in the morning in the sky over the Kherson region. The enemy tried to attack Crimea. Shell fragments fell far from settlements, there were no casualties. There was also no infrastructure damage reported."
Last month, Russia's Defense Ministry held the US responsible for Ukraine's deadly attack on Crimea, which it says was carried out by US missiles.
"The responsibility for a deliberate missile strike on peaceful residents of Sevastopol is primarily carried by Washington, which supplied this weaponry to Ukraine," the Ministry stated on Telegram, adding that Ukraine utilized ATACMS missiles.
A Ukrainian missile assault on Crimea killed five people, including two children, and injured over 119, according to officials. Fragments struck beachgoers in Sevastopol after at least one missile was intercepted by air defenses and detonated in the sky.
