A number of Ukrainian ** reports said that the commander of the Ukrainian Air Force, Lieutenant General Mykola Oreshchuk, announced that on December 22, local time, the Ukrainian army shot down three Su-34 fighter-bombers that took off from Morozov Airport in Rostov-on-Don in the south of Kherson in Russia.
The Telegram account flighterbomer, which is subordinate to the Russian Aerospace Forces, also mentions the relevant information, "Yes, according to our information, there were combat losses, 1 aircraft was shot down." The cause is being investigated and a crew member is being sought. "FlighterBomer also claimed that it was the Patriot air defense system that shot down the Su-34.
There is a suspected Russian parachute jump on the Internet, and you can see the parachute and the Russian army on the search and rescue mission*** As for whether the Russian pilot had time to eject, or survived after ejection, there is no more definite news at present.
And less than a week ago, in order to retaliate against Russia's drone attacks on infrastructure in Ukraine, dozens of Ukrainian drones launched attacks on various military airports in Russia, including the Su-34 fleet at the Morozov Airport in Rostov, when a total of 20 Su-34s were parked on the airport.
Russian media initially said that a Su-34 was damaged at the Morozovsk airport in Rostov, however, later assessments showed that the results were beyond imagination, and the spokesman of the Ukrainian "Southern" Volunteer Army Blachuk quoted information spread by the enemy to report: "The Ukrainian army issued **17 attack drones (type determined)." 7 were shot down by the Pantsir-S1 air defense-missile defense system, the remaining 10 hit the target. As a result, 2 Su-34s were rendered unrepairable, and another 10 were injured. ”
The airport is the base of the 559 Guards bomber regiment of the Russian Aerospace Forces, the so-called good things come in pairs, just after being destroyed and damaged 12 Su-34, I did not expect that the 3 Su-34 that took off from this airport were intercepted head-on by the Patriot air defense system again, it seems that this Russian Aerospace Corps is basically an explanation.
It is worth noting that the Su-34 was shot down at a distance of 50 km, which is beyond the range of the Ukrainian short- and medium-range air defense system, and it is estimated that the Russian fighters did not realize that the advanced Patriot air defense system would be deployed here, because this air defense system is deployed in Kyiv. And recently a set of Patriot air defense systems supplied by Germany was delivered, armed with 60 anti-aircraft missiles. And Japan has also amended its laws to allow the supply of Patriot interceptor missiles to the United States to be transferred to Ukraine.
Just 3 days ago, at his last annual press conference, Zelensky disclosed that Ukraine would receive more Patriot air defense systems, but he refused to disclose donor countries or details of the delivery schedule.
It is worth noting that this is not the first time that the Patriot has shot down the Su-34, as Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Colonel Yuri Inat confirmed to a Ukrainian family last month** that the three Russian Mi-8** and one Su-34 and one Su-35 destroyed on May 13 in the Bryansk region of Russia were shot down by Ukraine with Patriot air defense systems.
And these 5 Russian fighters were shot down within a few minutes before and after. And the pilot was reimbursed in full, and he didn't even have time to eject, as if he was asleep.
At that time, these Patriot missiles were launched directly from the territory of Ukraine and pursued into the territory of Russia, which was a proper cross-border attack on Russia by the United States, but since Ukraine directly disclosed it, it shows that Biden has acquiesced to this, although the United States has always asked Ukraine not to attack Russia with the United States, but at least, the Patriot is not F-16, ATACMS these offensive **, it belongs to a typical defense system.
Compared with the 3 Su-34s that were blown head-on this time, the one in May was somewhat tricky, because the Russian fighter pilots did not even have time to eject at that time, and it is estimated that they thought they had entered Russian territory, and Ukraine did not dare to cross the border no matter how ruthless it was, after all, the United States had sworn that Ukraine would not allow Ukraine to use American-made ** to attack targets in Russia, but the Patriot missile did not speak of international law and crossed the border directly.