The Russian Air Force has lost a Su-25SM ground attack jet, photo by Ukrainian journalist Andriy Tsaplienko shows.
The plane was quickly purged from Russian air spotter databases, but an archived photo clearly shows a Su-25SM with the same registration number as on the remains.
The plane was quickly purged from Russian air spotter databases, but an archived photo clearly shows a Su-25SM with the same registration number as on the remains.
According to archived database data, this plane was part of the 18th Close Air Support Air Regiment, based in Chernigovka in the Russian Far East.
Jets from this regiment were reportedly flown to Belarus as part of "Allied Resolve-2022" exercise
Jets from this regiment were reportedly flown to Belarus as part of "Allied Resolve-2022" exercise
https://twitter.com/galandecZP/status/1484889795042201603
Later, satellite imagery showed Su-25 jets based at Luninets airfield, 32 kilometers from the Ukrainian border.
Evidence suggests they flew sorties that hit civilian areas, including in Irpin northwest of Kyiv.
Evidence suggests they flew sorties that hit civilian areas, including in Irpin northwest of Kyiv.
A video shows Su-25 jets flying from the north and hitting a residential block in Irpin
Another video from @RFERL's Ukrainian service shows the aftermath of what we believe is the same airstrike
Another video from @RFERL's Ukrainian service shows the aftermath of what we believe is the same airstrike
According to Ukrainian media, four people were injured in the attack, one of them reportedly in severe condition.
The damaged building is 300 m away from a military hospital in Irpin, which was allegedly the intended target (we have been unable to independently confirm this).
The damaged building is 300 m away from a military hospital in Irpin, which was allegedly the intended target (we have been unable to independently confirm this).
If the hospital was indeed the target of the airstrike, that would constitute a war crime, since all medical facilities are off limits, even military ones.
Even if there were legitimate targets in the area, it is clear the Russian Air Force did little to ensure civilians' safety
Even if there were legitimate targets in the area, it is clear the Russian Air Force did little to ensure civilians' safety
There are other sources to confirm Russian Air Force losses: local Russian media reported that colonel Ruslan Rudnev, the commander of apparently the 120th Mixed Air Regiment, based in Domna in the Russian Far East, was killed in Ukraine.
chita.ru/news/172825/
chita.ru/news/172825/
The Ukrainian General Staff reports Russia has lost a total of 30 fixed-wing aircraft in the first week of the war. Russia's Ministry of Defence has not provided figures for jets or any other air or ground vehicles lost so far.
We will continue monitoring the situation closely.
We will continue monitoring the situation closely.
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