Russia has destroyed five Ukrainian fighter jets of the type SU-27 and damaged two more in a missile attack against a military airbase in the Poltava region of Ukraine. This is reported by the Russian Defense Ministry.
On video footage published on Telegram, smoke and flames can be seen rising from what is claimed to be an airbase near the city of Myrhorod in eastern Ukraine.
"As a result of the Russian army's attack, five operational SU-27 fighter jets were destroyed, and two that were under repair were damaged," the ministry writes on Telegram.
Ukraine has not commented on the reports.
The attack comes at a time when Ukraine is waiting for promised deliveries of F-16 fighter jets from several NATO countries. Pro-Russian military bloggers have pointed to an increased number of Russian attacks on Ukrainian airbases this year ahead of the expected deliveries.