They were punished – Ignat about the destruction of 3 Russian planes that bombed Avdeevka

Air forces continue to destroy enemy aircraft. On the morning of February 17, the military immediately destroyed three Russian fighters – two Su-34 and one Su-35.

Representative of the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Yuri Ignat told 24 Channel that the destroyed planes attacked the Eastern direction with KABs, in particular Avdeevka.

“They were punished. They were destroyed as before in the Odessa and Kherson directions. Then the Air Force also worked. In order for there to be a lot of such news, more funds are needed, which the top military-political leadership of the state is talking about today,” Ignat said.

On all world platforms, Ukrainian officials are calling for Ukraine to be provided with means that are capable of reaching Russian aircraft far. In addition to the air defense systems that are already in service, we are waiting for the F-16 – this is something that will complement air defense and will be able to discourage Russian aviation and pilots from approaching our borders.

What is known about the pilots

The Commander of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Nikolai Oleshchuk in his telegram channel published a map with designated areas where the Cospas-Sarsat satellite system was activated during the emergency exit of the aircraft.

It notifies about location of pilots' personal beacons. Then it will be easier for search and rescue services to find the pilots. Apparently, this is what the Russian occupiers are doing now.

Pilots do not always survive ejection. An aircraft can be hit if an anti-aircraft guided missile hits it. Accordingly, the aircraft body is “stitched” with thousands of fragments. The catapult can operate automatically without the participation of a pilot. Let’s hope that fewer of them survived there,” Yuri Ignat emphasized.

The Su-35 is a single-seat aircraft, one of the newest in service with the Russian Military Space Forces. Su-34 is a two-seater aircraft. At a minimum, 5 ejections would have to take place. However, only 4 radio beacons worked on the map. According to radio interception, one pilot was found, others are being sought.

Russia is gradually losing aviation: the latest losses

• On January 24, an Il-76 military transport plane crashed in the Korochansky district of the Belgorod region of Russia. There were previously 63 people on board – all died.
• On January 14, 2024, the Russian A-50 early warning aircraft was destroyed, the crew of which was killed. The Il-22 air command post was also shot down, which, despite heavy damage, managed to land in Anapa.
• December 22, 2023, Ukrainian defenders destroyed 3 Russian aircraft in the southern direction Su-34. Subsequently, the forces and means of the air defense of Ukraine destroyed 2 more fighter-bombers Su-34 and Su-30.