A Russian strategic bomber was shot down by Ukrainian forces for the first time since the war began in 2022. The plane was downed in Russian airspace after taking part in a long-range air strike in Ukraine’s central region. While Ukraine claims it was shot down by antiaircraft missiles, Russian officials attribute the crash to a technical malfunction.
The downing of the bomber comes after Russian strikes killed at least nine people in the city of Dnipro, damaging residential buildings and the main train station. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has renewed his calls for Western allies to supply air defense systems to Ukraine, emphasizing the need for protection against future attacks.
Following the incident, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg announced plans to send more air defense systems to Ukraine, including Patriot batteries. The United States is expected to vote on a $61 billion aid package for Ukraine over the weekend.
Rescue operations are ongoing in Dnipro, where several floors of a residential building were destroyed. The region’s governor reported that Ukrainian air defenses successfully shot down multiple missiles and drones launched by the Russians. The death toll is expected to rise as search and rescue efforts continue in the aftermath of the air strikes.
Source
Photo credit www.aljazeera.com