Russia’s Defense Ministry announced on Tuesday that a missile strike on an airfield in central Ukraine had destroyed and damaged seven Ukrainian fighter jets.
“Five active Su-27 multi-purpose fighters were destroyed, and two under repair were damaged as a result of the Russian army’s strike,” the military stated on Telegram.
Undated aerial footage accompanying the brief statement showed an explosion and smoke rising from the airfield.
The ministry specified that the Myrhorod airfield in Ukraine’s Poltava region was targeted.
Ukraine’s former Air Force spokesperson, Yuriy Ihnat, confirmed the strike on Myrhorod but accused the Russian military of exaggerating the damage.
“There are losses, but not at all like the enemy claims because they always do this since the beginning of the invasion,” Ihnat wrote on Facebook shortly after midnight.
Ihnat told Reuters that Russian reconnaissance drones facilitated the strike on Myrhorod, presenting a “very serious threat.”
“It flies and reports everything in real-time, and then Iskander arrives in a couple of minutes. It is obvious,” he was quoted as saying.
Russia announced its strike on the Ukrainian airfield as Kyiv prepares to receive the initial batches of U.S.-made F-16 jets from Europe. Moscow has threatened to destroy the Western warplanes.
