Ukraine shoots down another Russian plane amid heavy fighting – DW – 07/07/2024

Ukrainian defense forces shot down a Su-25 attack aircraft in the Pokrovsk sector in the eastern region of Donetsk, where the heaviest fighting on the entire front was concentrated this Sunday (07/07/2024). Meanwhile, the Netherlands confirmed to Kiev that the promised F-16s would be handed over to the Ukrainian armed forces “without any delay”.

“Anti-aircraft gunners of the separate mechanized brigade named after General Mark Bezruchko shot down another Su-25 attack aircraft, which is now burning in the fields of the Ukrainian Donbass,” the Ukrainian army’s Khortytsia operational strategic group reported. The statement on Telegram said the plane was shot down in the direction of Pokrovsk, where “it was firing at positions of the defense forces.”

Meanwhile, the General Staff reported that since the beginning of the day, 78 battles were recorded, most of them in the Pokrovsk sector. According to the military report, the occupiers in this area made 27 attempts to knock out the Ukrainian defense forces from their positions, which are controlling the attack and managed to repel 19, while another eight fighters are still active.

“No delay”

Meanwhile, Dutch Foreign Minister Casper Veldkamp said during a visit to Kiev that his country would hand over the promised F-16 aircraft to Ukraine “without any delay.” Veldkamp assured during his first international trip since taking office that “we are now certain that the first F-16 will be delivered without any delay,” although he did not give a date. The minister’s visit took place on Saturday, but was only reported on Sunday for security reasons.

Ukrainian pilots and crews are training and training in the use of these advanced fighter aircraft in various NATO countries. Since the beginning of the Russian war of aggression, Ukraine has sought F-16 aircraft from its allies to allow it to gain air superiority due to the accuracy, speed and range of these aircraft.

dzc (EFE, AFP)