The conflict in Eastern Ukraine has seen another escalation, as Ukrainian forces have claimed to have shot down a Russian fighter plane on Saturday. According to Serhiy Horbunov, the head of the Kostiantynivka Military Administration, the plane was brought down near the city of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk province. Photos of the aftermath showed charred remains of the aircraft, which had landed on a house that caught fire.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defence Ministry has claimed that its forces had taken control of the village of Zhelanne Druhe in the same province. This capture would come just three days after Ukrainian forces announced their withdrawal from the frontline town of Vuhledar, which had been the site of intense fighting for two years.
The loss of Vuhledar is seen as a devastating blow to Ukraine’s morale and military position, and has led some to question the effectiveness of Ukraine’s military strategy. Washington’s refusal to grant Ukraine permission to strike targets deep inside Russian territory has denied Kyiv the opportunity to degrade Moscow’s capabilities and has hindered its ability to effectively respond to Russian aggression.
Russian Fighter Plane Shot Down in Ukraine’s Donetsk Province (Image via Getty)
Despite these challenges, Ukrainian forces have continued to launch attacks on Russian positions. On Saturday, Ukraine’s air force said that Russia had launched three guided missiles and 13 attack drones at Ukraine overnight, and that three of the drones had been shot down over the Odesa region and 10 others were lost. In response, Ukrainian forces launched a counter-attack, striking a passenger bus in the city of Horlivka in the partially occupied Donetsk region. The attack left nine people wounded.
Russia’s Defence Ministry claimed that its air defences shot down 10 Ukrainian drones overnight, with seven of them being shot down over the Belgorod region, two over the Kursk region, and one over the Voronezh region.
The conflict in Eastern Ukraine has been ongoing for years, with significant losses on both sides. The relentless fighting has had a devastating impact on the region, with thousands of civilians killed, injured, or displaced. The international community has been criticized for its inaction in addressing the conflict, with many calling for more robust action to support Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
As the conflict continues to unfold, it remains to be seen what implications the latest events will have on the situation on the ground. However, one thing is clear: the loss of Vuhledar is a significant blow to Ukraine’s military position and is likely to have significant psychological and strategic implications for the country and its allies.
