The well-known independent daily, which focuses on economic news, said on its website: “Two Su-34 and Su-35 fighters and two Mi-8 helicopters were shot down almost simultaneously.” “.
These planes took an offensive position in an ambush in the Russian region of Briansk, bordering Ukraine, according to the newspaper.
“According to preliminary data… the fighters were supposed to launch a missile and bomb attack on targets in the Chernihiv region of Ukraine, and the helicopters were there to support them and other tasks, including the rescue of Sukhoi crew members if they were shot down,” the newspaper said.
Other estimates
The Russian “Tass” news agency said that a “Sukhoi-34” warplane crashed in the area, but did not specify the reason.
The agency quoted an emergency services official as saying the helicopter’s engine caught fire before crashing near Klintsy, about 40 km from the border.
The agency did not mention anything about the Sukhoi-35 fighter or any other helicopter.
But a clip posted to pro-war Russian channel “Voyene Osvidometel” on “Telegram” showed a helicopter exploding as it flew at high altitude, veering off course, then falling to the ground with searing flames in it.
Comments accompanying the video clip said a missile shot down the Russian-made Mi-8 helicopter.
It was not possible to verify the authenticity of the video clip.
Position of Kiev
The newspaper “Kommersant” did not provide any evidence of the destruction of the four planes and confirmed the death of all the crew members.
There has been no official reaction from Ukraine, which generally refuses to comment on any attack inside Russia.
But Mykhailo Podolyak, adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, posted a tweet describing the incident as “a justice…and an immediate reaction”.
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