On December 24, Ukraine's Air Force achieved a notable victory by downing a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber jet near the occupied city of Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast.
The Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk reported this significant event, marking a setback for Russian military operations in the region.
The Sukhoi Su-34 is a twin-seat jet, but the Air Force did not specify the number of pilots on board during the incident.
Additional Air Force Actions
In a separate operation, the Ukrainian Air Force launched a missile at a Russian Su-30 fighter jet over the Black Sea near Odesa. The outcome of this engagement remains unclear, as it has not been confirmed whether the jet was successfully downed.
Air Raid Alerts and Drone Attacks
The evening of December 24 saw air raid alerts in several Ukrainian regions as Russian troops launched Shahed drones against Ukraine. Odesa experienced several explosions on Christmas Eve, as reported by local media.
Prior to these incidents, the Air Force had reported a missile heading toward Odesa. Serhii Bratchuk, a spokesperson for the Odesa Oblast military administration, confirmed the downing of one Shahed drone. The Air Force also reported that loitering munitions were targeting the Black Sea port cities of Odesa and Chornomorsk, along with Starokostiantyniv in Khmelnytsky Oblast, home to the Starokostiantyniv Air Base.
