Russia destroys 13 Ukrainian drones, three Tochka-U missiles: Russian Defense Ministry

Europe, News May 8, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

Russian air defense has downed 13 Ukrainian drones, three Tochka-U missiles, and nice Smerch missiles on the night of May 6, according to Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson Major-General Igor Konashenkov.

The Russian Defense Ministry released footage of its operation to take down the Ukrainian Bayratkar TB2 armed drone. In the video, it can be seen that the Pantsir S2 short-range air defense system is being used to carry out the operation. The video footage also shows the remains of the downed drone.

Russian military and artillery forces also claimed to hit 240 different Ukrainian military targets in one night. “Missile and artillery forces targeted 44 command posts and 196 strong-points of the Ukrainian army and areas where Ukrainian troops and military equipment were deployed,” said the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman.

“High-precision air-based missiles of the Russian Air Force have hit 5 areas of manpower and military equipment concentration, as well as 1 ammunition depot near Bakhmut. Operational-tactical and army aviation have hit 18 military assets of Ukraine. Among them, 2 command posts near Skovorodnikovo in Kharkov [Kharkiv] Region, 5 areas of concentration of personnel and military equipment, 3 ammunition and fuel depots near Dachnoe in Odessa Region. A large concentration of military equipment from the USA and European countries has been destroyed near the Bogodukhov railway station in Kharkov [Kharkiv] Region. The attacks have resulted in the elimination of more than 280 nationalists and up to 48 armored and motor vehicles.” the statement added.

Konashenkov also unveiled facts and figures about Russia’s ongoing “special military operation in Ukraine” by stating that so far the Russian armed forces have destroyed at least 152 Ukrainian aircraft, 112 helicopters, and 762 unmanned aerial vehicles, as well as 295 air defense systems and 2,895 tanks and armored vehicles.

Konashenkov added that 333 multiple rocket launchers, 1,364 field artillery pieces, mortars, and 2,716 military vehicles have also been captured or destroyed during the whole conflict so far.

*^{Russian Defense Ministry Spokesman Igor Konashenkov. (Image Credit: Russian Defense Ministry/TASS)}*

Russia’s detailed accounts of progress along with the video proofs of the ongoing invasion come only two days before the Russian military prepares for the grand parade in Moscow’s Red Square to mark the 77th anniversary of the Victory Day on May 9.

Russian Defense Ministry is doing its best to use the upcoming Victory day and its activities to boost its military’s morale, which they really need right now. More than 11,000 military servicemen would take part in the grand parade as well as 113 units of modern Russian military equipment including the T-34-85 tanks would take place in the parade along with 77 aircraft and helicopters that would fly past the Red Square during the grand show.

The Russian Defense Ministry spokesperson also said during the briefing that the Russian military has used Iskander missiles to destroy the weapons sent by the United States and the European Union to Ukraine and eliminated troops of Ukraine’s 58th Mechanized Infantry Brigade in the Kharkiv Region.

“A Ukrainian Su-24 bomber, a Su-27 fighter jet, three Mi-8 helicopters with paratroopers and two Bayraktar-TB2 UAVs were shot down in midair near Snake Island. The Ukrainian armored assault boat Stanislav was also destroyed,” Konashenkov added.