Russian Su-34 Fighter Bomber Shot Down By Ukraine Over Donbas

Another one bites the dust. JL

The Associated Press reports:

Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian bomber Saturday near the city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk province The aircraft was an Su-34 fighter bomber. Photos showed charred remains of an aircraft after it landed on a house that caught fire. “Debris partially fell near the town of Kostiantynivka. Debris also  damaged several private houses. There were no casualties or injuries as a result of this incident,” 

Ukrainian forces said they shot down a Russian fighter plane Saturday while Russia claimed it made gains in Ukraine’s east.

The Russian bomber was shot down near the city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk province, head of the Kostiantynivka Military Administration Serhiy Horbunov was quoted as saying by Ukraine’s public broadcaster, Suspilne. Photos showed charred remains of an aircraft after it landed on a house that caught fire.

Also in the partially occupied Donetsk province, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed Saturday that it had taken control of the village of Zhelanne Druhe.

If confirmed, the capture would come three days after Ukrainian forces said they were withdrawing from the front-line town of Vuhledar, some 33 kilometers (21 miles) from Zhelanne Druhe, following a hard-fought two-year defense.

Although unlikely to change the course of the war, the loss of Vuhledar is indicative of Kyiv’s worsening position, in part the result of Washington's refusal to grant Ukraine permission to strike targets deep inside Russian territory and preventing Kyiv from degrading Moscow’s capabilities.