The Russian Ministry of Defense announced a significant strike against Ukrainian military assets. According to their statement, Russian forces successfully destroyed five Su-27 fighter jets and damaged two more at Mirgorod airfield in Poltava region. The operation was carried out with the help of "Iskander-M" missiles, Reuters reported, BTA reports.
The ministry released footage of the attack, showing smoke and flames rising from an airport.
"In the strike, five operational Su-27 multi-purpose fighters were destroyed, and two others were damaged,", the ministry said.
Russia is attacking Ukrainian airports as Kiev prepares to receive the first batch of US F-16 jets that Moscow has vowed to destroy, Reuters notes.
The Russian Ministry of Defense also announced that the anti-aircraft defense shot down 11 drones launched by Ukraine against the territory of Russia and the Crimean Peninsula last night, RIA Novosti reported.