Russian forces down 2 Ukrainian fighter jets in Kharkov
Russian aerospace forces destroy 44 objects of Ukrainian military infrastructure in Kharkov, and DPR Armed Forces shoot down a Tochka-U missile over Khartsyzk.
Russian air defense systems shot down two Ukrainian fighter jets MiG-29 in the northeastern Kharkov region on Sunday, Russian Defense Ministry Spokesperson Igor Konashenkov confirmed.
"The Russian air defense shot down two Ukrainian planes MiG-29 in flight near the towns of Fedorivka and Zavody in the Kharkov Region," Konashenkov told journalists.
Russian aerospace forces have also destroyed another 44 objects of Ukrainian military infrastructure, the spokesperson noted.
Russian Forces free hostages held in Mariupol Mosque
This comes as Konashenkov said on Sunday that Russian special troops released and rescued Muslims imprisoned by Ukrainian Nazis in a mosque in Mariupol.
"During the offensive aimed at liberating the city of Mariupol, at the request of Turkish President R. [Tayyip] Erdogan, a special operation was carried out in the Primorsky district on April 16 to free hostages held by Ukrainian Nazis in a Turkish mosque," Konashenkov said.
29 militants, including foreign mercenaries, were killed in the process, and the mosque was successfully unblocked.
"The hostages, citizens of one of the CIS countries, were released and taken to a safe place," Konashenkov added.
On Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine will walk away from the negotiations table with Russia if Kiev's troops in Mariupol are eliminated.
DPR Armed Forces shoot down Ukrainian Tochka-U missile
In a similar context, the armed forces of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) shot down Sunday a Ukrainian Tochka-U missile over the city of Khartsyzk, with more than 20 houses damaged by fragments, the DPR Territorial Defense Headquarters announced.
Earlier in the day, a civilian was reported to have been injured during the shelling of Khartsyzk by Ukrainian troops.
"On Palm Sunday, the nationalists used a Tochka-U tactical missile system against Khartsyzk residents. The Ukrainian militants once again used a Tochka-U tactical missile system to hit the DPR rear," the headquarters said on Telegram.
According to the DPR Territorial Defense Headquarters, "Our air defense intercepted the missile over Khartsyzk, but its fragments damaged more than 20 houses."