Kyiv/Moscow: Ukrainian forces announced on Saturday the successful downing of a Russian fighter jet, marking a significant blow to Moscow’s aerial capabilities. Meanwhile, Russia claimed further territorial gains in eastern Ukraine, intensifying the battle for control in the strategically crucial Donetsk region.
According to Serhiy Horbunov, head of the Kostiantynivka Military Administration, the aircraft was downed near Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region. Photographs of the incident revealed the charred wreckage of the bomber after it crashed into a nearby house, igniting a substantial fire.
In the same partially occupied Donetsk province, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have gained control of the village of Zhelanne Druhe. If verified, this development would come on the heels of Ukrainian forces’ withdrawal from the front-line town of Vuhledar, which had endured a fierce two-year defense, just three days prior.
Ukraine Takes Down Russian Fighter Jet
While the loss of this fighter jet may not drastically change the war’s trajectory, it highlights Ukraine’s increasingly precarious situation. This vulnerability has been exacerbated by Washington’s restrictions on strikes against targets deep within Russia, limiting Kyiv’s ability to weaken Moscow’s military strength.
Zelenskyy Set to Unveil Victory Plan to Allied Nations
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Saturday that he will unveil his “victory plan” at the upcoming meeting of the Ramstein group of nations, scheduled for October 12. This coalition, which supplies arms to Ukraine, is seen as pivotal in the ongoing conflict.
“We will present the victory plan — clear, concrete steps towards a just end to the war. The determination of our partners and the strengthening of Ukraine are what can stop Russian aggression,” Zelenskyy stated on X. He noted that this 25th Ramstein meeting will mark the first occasion it is conducted at the leaders’ level.
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Last week, President Zelenskyy shared his plan with U.S. President Joe Biden during their meeting in Washington. While specifics of the plan remain confidential, it reportedly encompasses Ukraine’s aspirations for NATO membership and requests for long-range missiles capable of striking targets within Russia.
In the meantime, Russian shelling in southern Ukraine has led to two fatalities in the Zaporizhzhia region, as reported by regional Governor Ivan Fedorov. Ukraine’s air force confirmed that overnight, Russia launched three guided missiles and 13 attack drones at Ukrainian positions, all of which were intercepted. Notably, three drones were shot down over the Odesa region, with an additional ten lost in total.
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In Horlivka, a city located in the partially occupied Donetsk region, nine individuals were injured when a Ukrainian drone struck a passenger bus, as reported by the city’s Russian-installed Mayor, Ivan Prikhodko.
On Saturday, Russia’s Defense Ministry reported that its air defenses successfully intercepted 10 Ukrainian drones overnight across three critical border regions. The majority of the drones—seven—were downed over Belgorod, with two intercepted in Kursk and one in Voronezh, highlighting the continued intensity of cross-border attacks in the ongoing conflict.
