Ukraine shoots down Russian bomber after airstrike kills two children among 8
Russia Ukraine war news updates: Ukraine shot down a Russian strategic bomber on Friday (local time(, following the warplane's involvement in a long-range airstrike that resulted in the deaths of eight persons, including two children, in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, Kyiv reported.
The city of Dnipro and its surrounding region experienced a barrage of missiles in the early hours, causing damage to residential buildings and the main train station. According to Regional Governor Serhiy Lysak, three persons lost their lives in Dnipro, with one man was found dead in the rubble of a five-story building.
Five others were killed in nearby areas of the Dnipropetrovsk region. Among the deceased were a 14-year-old girl and an 8-year-old boy, as stated by Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba.
In recent weeks, Russia has intensified its long-range aerial assaults on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and other targets, increasing pressure on Kyiv behind the front lines where Russian forces have been steadily advancing in the east.
Denying claims of targeting civilians, Russia argued that the energy system is a legitimate target. However, numerous civilians have lost their lives during the airstrikes.
In a historic development for Ukraine, Kyiv's top military spy revealed that Ukrainian forces successfully downed a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber from a distance of over 300 km after the plane launched missiles during the overnight attack.
"We hit the plane from a distance of 308 km, quite far away," stated Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), in an interview with BBC-Ukraine. Parts of the interview were shared on the Telegram messaging app. He noted that this was achieved using the same method employed to shoot down a Russian A-50 early warning and control aircraft earlier this year.
It is learnt through various media handles that the plane was targeted using a modified S-200, a long-range surface-to-air missile system from the Soviet era.
Footage on social media, although unconfirmed, showed a warplane with its tail ablaze spiraling towards the ground.
The Russian defense ministry acknowledged that a bomber had crashed in Russia's southern Stavropol region, which is hundreds of km from Ukrainian-controlled territory. The ministry attributed the crash to a technical malfunction.
Of the four Russian air force crew members who ejected from the warplane, two were rescued, one passed away, and a rescue operation was underway for the fourth, according to the Russian regional governor.
Civilians residing in a five-story residential building that was struck in Dnipro described being deeply shaken. The top floor of the building was partially destroyed, and firefighters worked to extinguish a fire early in the morning.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the strike site, urging Ukraine's allies to expedite the delivery of air defense supplies as the country's stocks diminish due to a slowdown in critical Western military aid.
Overnight, Ukraine's air force reported shooting down 15 incoming missiles, including two Kh-22 cruise missiles and 14 drones. Governor Lysak confirmed that air defenses intercepted 11 of 16 missiles and nine of 10 drones targeting the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Zelenskyy said additional Russian missiles had struck the Black Sea port of Pivdennyi in the southern Odesa region on Friday afternoon, resulting in the destruction of grain storage facilities and their contents.
- With inputs from agencies
