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Air Force downs Russian Su-24M bomber near Snake Island

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Air Force downs Russian Su-24M bomber near Snake Island
A Ukrainian Air Force Sukhoi Su-24MR tactical bomber, 30 July 2014. (Source: Wikipedia)

Ukraine's Air Force reported a downed Russian Su-24M bomber aircraft as it attempted to launch missiles towards targets in Odesa Oblast, the Commander of Ukraine's Air Force said in a post on Telegram on Dec. 5.

Lieutenant General Mykola Oleschuk stated that a Ukrainian anti-aircraft missile took down the aircraft, under cover of a Su-30SM fighter plane, as Russia's military planned to strike the southern part of Odesa Oblast.

Strikes against targets in Odesa Oblast have become a frequent occurrence since the start of Russia's war in Ukraine. Situated on the Black Sea, Odesa serves as a central port for trade in the region.

Snake Island, located 35 kilometers from the mainland of Odesa Oblast, is synonymous with Ukrainian resistance. On Feb. 24, 2022, at the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion, a Ukrainian border guard famously responded, "Russian warship, go f*** yourself," when prompted to surrender by Russia's navy.

Occupying Snake Island effectively allowed Russian forces to launch a blockade of Odesa's Black Sea ports and direct missile attacks against Ukraine until April 14, 2022, when Ukraine successfully sunk the Moskva, the flagship of Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

President Volodymyr Zelensky marked 500 days of Russia's full-scale war by visiting the island earlier this year with a video filmed on Snake Island, promising that Ukraine will reclaim every part of its territory currently occupied by Russia.

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Dmytro Basmat

Senior News Editor

Dmytro Basmat is a senior news editor for The Kyiv Independent. He previously worked in Canadian politics as a communications lead and spokesperson for a national political party, and as a communications assistant for a Canadian Member of Parliament. Basmat has a Master's degree in Political Management from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada, and a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Governance from Toronto Metropolitan University.

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