Ukraine shot down two Russian fighter jets, an IL-76 aircraft, and a helicopter, Ukrainian officials said Saturday.
The head of the Vinnytsia Regional State Administration, Serhiy Borzov, said on social media that Ukraine shot down a Russian SU-25 fighter jet near Kalynivka in the Vinnytsia region.
The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said on Facebook that Ukrainian air defense systems shot down an IL-76 aircraft carrying paratroopers from the Russian airborne troops in the Vasylkiv region.
Read more: Understanding the conflict between Ukraine and Russia in the prism of history
Located near Kyiv, Vasylkiv is 35 kilometers (22 miles) from the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
Ukrainian Air Force said that the country’s S-300 air defense missile system shot down a Russian helicopter and a SU-25 fighter jet in Donbas.
Russia’s military intervention in Ukraine entered its third day Saturday, with the latest reports indicating that Russian troops were heading toward the capital, Kyiv, from several directions.
Read more: Ukraine’s president vows to stay put despite being Russia’s no. 1 target
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the military intervention Thursday, days after recognizing two separatist-held enclaves in eastern Ukraine.
He claimed that Moscow had no plan to occupy the neighboring country, but wanted to “demilitarize” and “denazify” Ukraine.
Не вірте фейкам. pic.twitter.com/wiLqmCuz1p
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 26, 2022
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of trying to install a puppet government and said Ukrainians will defend their country against Russian aggression.
Russia vetoes UN resolution on Ukraine
Russia vetoed a draft U.N. Security Council resolution on Friday that would have deplored Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, while China abstained from the vote – a move Western countries view as a win for showing Russia’s international isolation.
The United Arab Emirates and India also abstained from the vote on the U.S.-drafted text. The remaining 11 council members voted in favor. The draft resolution is now expected to be taken up by the 193-member U.N. General Assembly.
Read more: Russia turns down UNSC resolution on Ukraine
Anadolu with additional input by GVS News Desk