Fifteen Russian aerial targets were shot down on April 21, reported ukrinform website citing the Ukrainian Air Force officials.
Among them were two combined air and ground Su-35 and Su-34 jets, as well as a Su-25 ground attack plane, the military branch said on social media.
Russia’s most contemporary assault helicopter, the Ka-52 Alligator, was also reported shot down and two multi-purpose Mi-8 helicopters.
In April 20, Pentagon announced that it transferred unknown number of Soviet-era aircarft suspected to Polish and Slovak fourth-generation MiG-29 Fulcrum and Su-25 fighter jets.
Slovakia successfully transferring its S-300 air defense missile system to Ukraine and is currently contemplating giving Kyiv its 12 MiG-29s. As with its S-300 transfer, Bratislava wants guarantees of alternative protection for its airspace before seriously considering doing so. Patriot systems have already been deployed in place of the S-300 by Slovakia’s NATO allies.
Those same allies could also deploy fighter jets as Slovakia acquires F-16V Block 70 as replacements and the Netherlands deployed F-35 stealth jets as part of NATO missions.
Nine Orlan-10 battle drones were also downed the same day. Ukraine also captured a unknown number of Orlan-10 drones when the drone crashed near Kyiv.
The “Russian offensive in [the] Donbas has stalled. The enemy focuses on shelling Ukrainian defensive lines along the contact line, but is unable to advance forward,” open-source intelligence site Military Land said late on April 21.
At the besieged Azov Sea coastal city of Mariupol, the open-source site said Russian claims of fully controlling it are a falsehood.
Combined Ukrainian forces numbering more than 1,000 still control the sprawling Azovstal steel plant as their last bastion with its network of tunnels, but remain without reinforcements and replenishment of supplies.
The Pentagon sent 800 Stinger anti-aircraft systems in the latest round of security aid worth $800 million. The systems can be used to defend against helicopters and low-flying aircraft using infrared sensors to find a target.
“Russia claimed the full control of Mariupol today, but that’s false and Ukrainian troops remain besieged in Azovstal. Russian president Putin ordered to stop the operation to capture the plant to save the lives of Russian soldiers. The first Russian units have reportedly begun to withdraw from Mariupol,” Military Land said.
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