Victorious news of 680th day of war: Su-34 bomber burned at Russian airport, Ukraine’s Air Force struck at military units in Sevastopol, Yevpatoriya

Su-34 bomber burned down at the airfield in Chelyabinsk

The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine confirmed that on the night of January 4, a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber burned down at the Shagol airfield in Chelyabinsk, Russia.

“The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine informs: on the night of January 4, 2024, a Su-34 tactical bomber burned down at the Russian Shagol airfield, Chelyabinsk,” the report states.

The aircraft belonged to the aviation regiment of the 21st Combined Air Division of the Russian Air and Space Force.

"The causes of the fire are being clarified," the Defence Intelligence added, publishing a video of the fire, which shows someone walking away from the aircraft. 

Explosions in Crimea near Yevpatoriya and Sevastopol

On January 4, at approximately 4:15 pm Kyiv time, a series of explosions occurred in the temporarily occupied Crimea. A correspondent of Krym.Realii reported that about 10 explosions were heard in Sevastopol.

The Russian-installed mayor of Sevastopol, Mikhail Razvozhayev, said that this was the largest attack on Crimea in recent times, but assured that it had been repelled. The Russian Defense Ministry said that 10 missiles were shot down over Crimea.

The Crimean Wind Telegram channel reports that a military unit near the village of Uyutne near Yevpatoria was hit by a missile, and that ambulances were sent there, as well as a military unit in Yukharynska arroyo, Sevastopol.

The Strategic Communications center reported that the Ukrainian Armed Forces had hit the command post of the Russian occupying forces near Sevastopol.

The commander of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, also confirmed the successful attack on Crimea.

"On January 2, the Russian Ministry of Lies reported that Russian missiles hit a ‘bunker with Deputy Commander-in-Chief Valeriy Zaluzhnyi and nine other generals of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.’ Greetings to the occupiers in Crimea!

I am waiting for the same epic report from the enemy propaganda from Sevastopol and Yevpatoria on January 4 and once again thank the Air Force pilots and everyone who planned the operation for their impeccable combat work," he wrote on his Telegram channel. 

Ukrainian border guards destroy three Russian reconnaissance complexes in Kharkiv region overnight

Over the past day, soldiers of the Steel Frontier Offensive Guard together with the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed three Russian Murom-M reconnaissance complexes in the Kharkiv region. This was reported by the State Border Guard Service. 

"Border guards of the Steel Frontier Offensive Guard Brigade together with their colleagues from the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed 3 Murom-M systems in the Kharkiv region using FPV drones in a day. Thus, the enemy's reconnaissance capabilities are limited," the SBGS reported.

UK to provide Ukraine with 200 missiles for air defense

The UK Ministry of Defense has approved the supply of a new batch of missiles to Ukraine for its air defense systems. According to the official website of the UK government, the package includes about 200 anti-aircraft missiles to strengthen air defense.

"Putin is testing Ukraine’s defences and the West’s resolve, hoping that he can clutch victory from the jaws of defeat. But he is wrong. Ukraine’s degradation of the Russian Black Sea fleet has proven it is still in this fight to win," the statement said.

As part of this package, Ukraine will receive ASRAAM missiles developed by British Aerospace. These missiles are used in British air defense systems, which Ukraine received in 2022.