Ukraine's air defenses down advanced Russian Su‑34 bomber and Su‑30 fighter aircrafts
The Ukrainian air defenses continue to demonstrate effectiveness in combat with Russian air forces.
2:47 PM EST, December 25, 2023
It seems that the Ukrainian military continues to devise strategies against the Russian air force. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported downing two additional Russian military aircraft.
Russian Su-34 bomber lost
It's reported that Ukrainian air forces shot down an Su-34 bomber in the direction of Mariupol. Media highlights that this is one of the more advanced machines in the Russian army's arsenal, and its value stands around 50 million US dollars.
The Su-34 is essentially a multipurpose, tactical Russian bomber, conceived from the Su-27 fighter's design. It operates on two turbojet engines, boasting a maximum speed of roughly 1180 mph.
This bomber comes equipped with a 30 mm caliber GSz-30-1 aircraft gun. However, what is likely more significant are its additional equipment capabilities. The Su-34 has 12 hardpoints which can support supplementary weapons and equipment weighing up to approximately 9 tons. The aircraft's potential armament includes air bombs, rockets, maneuvering projectiles, guided missiles, and even tactical nuclear bombs.
Russian military aviation commanded approximately 130–140 Su-34 units. Currently, the modernized versions of the Su-34M are in service.
Ukrainian forces shoot down Su-30 fighter
The downing of the Su-34 is not the only recent action taken by the Ukrainian air forces. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported successful engagement against an Su-30 fighter in the Odesa sector of the Black Sea region.
In addition to this, they purportedly shot down 29 out of the 31 Shahed combat drones deployed by Russia in the assault.
