Russia Downs Two Ukrainian Warplanes, Three Helicopters & Two Drones Near Zmeiniy Island, MoD Says

Moscow launched the special military operation in Ukraine on 24 February, setting out its goals as demilitarisation and "de-Nazification" of the neighbouring country. President Vladimir Putin said that Russia was forced to start the operation to end the suffering that people of Donbass had been subjected to for eight years.

Russia's Defence Ministry has stated that its forces shot down a number of Ukrainian military vehicles in the vicinity of the Zmeiniy island, which was taken under control by the Russian troops at the onset of the special operation.

Namely, a Ukrainian Su-24 bomber, a Su-27 fighter jet and three Mil Mi-8 helicopters carrying assault groups had been downed, the ministry said. Additionally, two Turkish-made Bayraktar drones operated by Kiev's forces were shot down by air defences.

The Defence Ministry's spokesman, Igor Konashenkov, further commented that Ukrainian landing craft "Stanislav" was destroyed at sea.

Some 276 Ukrainian military targets were hit over the past twenty-five hours by Russian rockets and artillery, the Defence Ministry said, noting that they included command posts and Ukrainian troops' footholds.

Russian troops stationed on the island are taking part in the special military operation that President Vladimir Putin launched on 24 February. Commenting on its goals, Putin argued that Russia was forced to launch the operation in Ukraine in order to stop the "genocide" of the people living in Donbass. The latter had suffered from shelling by Ukrainian forces for eight years with varying intensity.

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