Ukraine shot down Su-25, Russia conducted nuclear exercises

Russian Su-25 attack aircraft

The Kyiv Independent news site on June 11 quoted information from the General Staff of the Ukrainian army saying that the country's forces had just shot down a Russian Su-25 attack aircraft in the Pokrovsk region (Donetsk) the day before.

Russia is carrying out heavy attacks in several areas on the eastern front, covering much of Donetsk province, after capturing the town of Avdiivka in February. The Ukrainian military says the Pokrovsk direction is the hottest spot on the front line.

Flashpoints: Russia threatens to attack outside Ukraine; gunfire erupts on Korean border

The Soviet-designed Su-25, known by its NATO name Frogfoot, is a ground attack aircraft whose role is to provide close air support for Russian ground forces. Last month, Ukraine said it had shot down several Su-25s, including two on May 23.

Ukraine said Russia lost a total of 685 aircraft in the conflict, while Russia has not commented on the information.

In another development, the Russian Defense Ministry said a Russian Su-34 fighter bomber crashed in the Caucasus mountains during a routine training flight.

Russian news agencies quoted an announcement from the Russian Defense Ministry saying the Su-34 crash killed the crew on board, according to Reuters.

TASS news agency quoted a representative of the Russian Ministry of Defense as saying: "The initial cause of the plane crash was a technical malfunction." The Russian Ministry of Defense added that the accident occurred in the mountainous region of North Ossetia-Alania of the country and both pilots died.

Ukraine suffers heavy energy losses

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on June 11 that Russian attacks had destroyed half of Ukraine's electricity production capacity since winter.

Russia's months-long offensive has caused severe energy shortages in Ukraine, leading to blackouts.

"Due to Russian missile and drone attacks, 9 GW of capacity was destroyed. The peak of electricity consumption last winter was 18 GW. So half of it is now non-existent," he said at a conference in Berlin, Germany.

Russia threatens to attack F-16s and bases outside Ukraine

The leader called on countries to provide more air defense systems, saying missiles and bombs help Russian soldiers advance on the battlefield.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said on June 11 that its forces had just taken control of two more villages: Timkovka in the Kharkiv region and Miasozharivka (called Artemovka in Russia) in the Luhansk region.

Ukraine has not commented on the information.

Russia nuclear exercise

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on June 11 that Russia's tactical nuclear exercises were necessary due to tensions in Europe and hostile actions by the United States and European powers.

Mr. Peskov cited the example that military exercises like the one Russia is conducting with Belarus are normal practice.

On the same day, Russia said its soldiers had just begun the second phase of an exercise to deploy tactical nuclear weapons with Belarusian soldiers, according to Reuters.

During the first phase of the exercise, the Russian military trained on how to equip and deploy Iskander missiles, while the air force trained on how to equip Kinzhal hypersonic missiles.

NATO leader says no plans to send troops to Ukraine

The second stage involves joint training between Russian and Belarusian units "for combat use of non-strategic nuclear weapons," the Russian Defense Ministry said. The location of the exercise has not been announced.

Accordingly, the exercise aims to "maintain the readiness of personnel and equipment of units in using non-strategic nuclear weapons of Russia and Belarus to unconditionally ensure sovereignty and territorial integrity".

In footage released by the Russian Defense Ministry, an Iskander missile system is seen being lowered into a field and the missile is lifted up. Also seen are a MiG-31 supersonic interceptor carrying a Kinzhal missile and a Tupolev Tu-22M3 supersonic long-range bomber.

On the same day, the Russian Defense Ministry said that the submarine Kazan and the frigate Admiral Gorshkov were practicing using high-precision weapons in the Atlantic Ocean.

The exercise involved attacking targets from a distance of more than 600 km and was followed by an air defence fire drill.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/chien-su-ukraine-ngay-839-ukraine-ban-roi-su-25-nga-tap-tran-hat-nhan-185240611224451686.htm