Ukraine claims to shoot down 300th Russian warplane

In addition to 300 Russian warplanes, the Ukrainian military claims to have downed 288 helicopters and 2,048 drones.

 Ukrainian servicemen ride on a military vehicle with a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft cannon, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the front line city of Vuhledar, Ukraine February 18, 2023. (photo credit: Yevhen Titov/Reuters)
Ukrainian servicemen ride on a military vehicle with a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft cannon, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the front line city of Vuhledar, Ukraine February 18, 2023.
(photo credit: Yevhen Titov/Reuters)

The 300th Russian warplane to be shot down by Ukrainian forces was announced by the Ukrainian Defense Ministry on Monday morning.

"Every Russian military jet invading our air space or attacking our people is a legitimate target for our air defense troops," said the ministry.

"Every Russian military jet invading our air space or attacking our people is a legitimate target for our air defense troops."

Ukraines Defense Ministry

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated the team that show down the aircraft on Sunday.

"Today I am especially grateful to our guys from the 110th separate mechanized brigade who shot down another enemy aircraft near Avdiivka!" Zelensky said in his Sunday address.

Ukraine wants air defense systems

Over recent months, the Ukrainian government had pushed for advanced air defense systems from its allies.

Retired General Lloyd Austin testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing to be the next Secretary of Defense in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, US. January 19, 2021. (credit: JIM LO SCALZO/POOL VIA REUTERS)
Retired General Lloyd Austin testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee during his confirmation hearing to be the next Secretary of Defense in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, US. January 19, 2021. (credit: JIM LO SCALZO/POOL VIA REUTERS)

On Friday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that some of the United States' $32 billion in aid included 1,600 Stinger shoulder-launched surface-to-air systems, a Patriot air-defense battery, eight National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and other anti-air systems.

Pentagon Press Secretary Brig.-Gen. Pat Ryder also emphasized on Friday the importance of countering Russia's unmanned aerial vehicles, and said that most recent security package would include counter-unmanned aerial system and electronic warfare detection equipment.

A total of 2,048 Russian drones have been shot down by Kyiv's forces, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry claimed on Monday. In addition to 300 warplanes, the Ukrainian military claims to have downed 288 helicopters.