Air Force commented on downing of Russian Su-25
Photo: Su-25 (wikipedia.org)
In the Ukrainian Air Force, details have emerged about the downing of a Russian Su-25 aircraft. It was landed in the Donbas region, according to the Air Force spokesman Ilia Yevlash.
“You can see that this aircraft was shot down by the Ukrainian Ground Forces unit. As you know, the Ground Forces also have air defense systems. In particular, we see the operation of short and medium-range air defense systems, which can deal with aircraft, and they are extremely important,” he said.
According to the spokesman, this downing was another indication that the Ukrainian Armed Forces need appropriate means to target such objectives.
“The Ukrainian Armed Forces need portable SAM systems that can combat both low-flying targets and drones, of which there are quite a lot. And of course, more serious complexes, not only Western ones, but also, for example, the Buk, which can effectively counter Russian helicopters and attack aircraft, including the Su-25,” Yevlash added.
Possible factors contributing to hitting the aircraft
He did not rule out that the personal factor of the pilot might have influenced the aircraft’s downing.
“If he (the pilot) felt fearless and had already made several flights without being caught, it doesn’t mean that he wouldn’t be caught tomorrow or the day after. More likely, he decided that he could make a certain flight now, but was intercepted by the Ukrainian Armed Forces and destroyed,” he stated.
About the aircraft
As Yevlash pointed out, Su-34s mainly drop UAVs, while they are covered by Su-35s, which fly and wait for launches to strike Ukrainian air defense systems.
“Among them is the Su-25, a ground attack aircraft, also known as Grach, which carries out tasks on the front line, firing various types of rockets at Ukrainian positions,” he noted.
Downing of the Russian Su-25 aircraft
On May 4, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that the Ukrainian Armed Forces shot down a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft in the sky over the Donetsk region. These aircraft are one of the most popular Russian aircraft shot down by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
It is worth noting that as of May 5, Ukrainian defense forces have shot down a total of 349 Russian aircraft of various types.