Russia claims to have destroyed five Ukrainian jets in attack on air base

Russia claimed on Tuesday to have destroyed five Ukrainian military jets in an attack on an air base. The attack came as Kyiv prepares for the arrival of long-awaited F-16 fighter jets.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it had fired Iskander-M missiles at an air base near the central Ukrainian city of Myrgorod, about 150 kilometers from the Russian border.

“As a result of the attack by the Russian army, five operational Su-27 multi-role fighters were destroyed and two under repair were damaged,” said a statement on Telegram.

The ministry also released footage of the attack and its aftermath, showing grey smoke rising above the airfield, where some parked planes could be seen, and charred black earth.

AFP could not immediately verify the footage and claims.

Russian and Ukrainian military bloggers had already reported on the attack on Monday.

The Ukrainian Air Force declined to comment.

Ukrainian military correspondents reported that Kyiv suffered equipment losses in the attack, and some were angry with commanders for parking the planes in the open without adequate protection.

The use of fighter jets has been relatively limited throughout the conflict, which is now in its third year, but Kyiv hopes that the arrival of Western F-16 fighter jets will allow the country to better protect itself from Russian bombing.

Ukraine has been demanding US-made fighter jets since the beginning of the conflict.

Several NATO countries have pledged to supply them and have been training Ukrainian pilots and crews for months.

The first deliveries, including from the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark, are expected to arrive in the country shortly.

Russia has promised to attack and destroy them.

Ukraine has not provided any information on where it will station the F-16.

Pro-Russian military bloggers have warned in advance of the expected arms deliveries that Russian attacks on Ukrainian air bases will increase this year.