Russia shoots down a series of US missiles, Kiev urges EU to increase support, complains about delay in F-16 delivery

Tình hình Ukraine: Nga hạ hàng loạt tên lửa Mỹ, Kiev hối EU tăng hỗ trợ, phàn nàn việc chậm có F-16

HIMAS multiple launch rocket system. (Source: Getty Images)

According to Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov, within one day, Russian air defense systems shot down five missiles of the HIMARS multiple launch rocket system (MLRS) that the US supports for Kiev, and one HARM anti-radar missile of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (VSU).

In addition, Mr. Konashenkov announced: “Seven Ukrainian drones were destroyed in the area of the residential areas of Kremennaya, Rubizhne, Ploschanka, Karmazinovka of the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) and Kirillovka of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR)”.

According to General Konashenkov, since the start of the special military operation, the Russian army has destroyed 402 aircraft, 223 helicopters, 3,471 UAVs, 414 air defense missile systems, 8,355 tanks and other armored fighting vehicles, 1,070 multiple launch rocket systems, 4,395 artillery and mortars, as well as 9,027 units of special military vehicles.

There has been no comment from Kiev on the above information, meanwhile, on the same day, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that an explosion in the Dzhankoi area of the Crimean peninsula destroyed Russian Kalibr cruise missiles during transport by rail.

Crimea's head Sergei Aksyonov said air defence systems had been activated in the area, but at least one person was injured after the blast damaged a house and a shop in Dzhankoi.

Regarding military aid to Kiev, also on March 20, at a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the European Union (EU) member states, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitry Kuleba said that the VSU first of all needs artillery shells, not only in quantity but also in speed of supply.

Mr. Kuleba called on the EU to quickly increase supplies to Kiev of additional air defense systems, tank artillery shells, anti-tank systems, long-range weapons, precision weapons and other equipment needed for the Ukrainian army to effectively counterattack.

Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kiev will receive new military support from NATO member countries and their allies.

Also on March 20, in an interview with the British newspaper The Times , Ukrainian Air Force Commander Sergei Golubtsov said that the force is in dire need of Western fighter jets, preferably the F-16 model.

According to Mr. Golubtsov, Ukrainian pilots currently have nothing to fly, Soviet-made fighter jets are significantly inferior to Russian ones, but sorties must continue, leading to Kiev losing its best pilots while waiting for the West to provide equipment.

In addition, mentioning that two Ukrainian pilots had been trained for three weeks on an F-16 simulator with "very good results", the general was confident that "Ukrainian pilots can learn to fly and control the weapon system on the F-16 in less than six months".

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