Victorious news of 706th day of war: Ukrainian forces target Russian Su-34, hit Russian air defense radar station in Crimea

Ukrainian forces shoot down Russian Su-34

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine confirmed the destruction of another Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber

This was stated by General Staff spokesman Andriy Kovalev, Army Inform reports.

The aircraft was shot down by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on January 29 in the skies over Luhansk region. In total, since the start of the large-scale war, Russia has lost about 30 aircraft of this model with a total value of more than $1 billion. Russia can produce only up to three Su-34s per year.

Ukrainian Armed Forces hit Russian air defense radar station in Crimea

In the temporarily occupied Crimea, near the village of Rozdolne, the Ukrainian Armed Forces hit a Russian air defense radar station. This is reported by the Center for Strategic Communication of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"On the morning of January 30, the Armed Forces of Ukraine successfully hit a radar station of the Russian air defense system near the village of Rozdolne in the temporarily occupied Crimea," the statement said.

According to Krym.Realii, military unit 85683-r is located in the village of Rozdolne. The website of the Russian administration of the district states that after the annexation, a unit of radio engineering troops was deployed in the village. The main task of this type of troops is to conduct aerial reconnaissance.

US Secretary of State says Ukraine will become NATO member

The largest NATO summit since the Cold War will be held in Washington this summer, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said. The agenda will include adaptation of countries to new challenges and military assistance to Ukraine.

"I believe that the process we are seeing in record time, first with Finland and now with Sweden, demonstrates that NATO's doors are open. It remains open for Ukraine to become a member of the Alliance. It also underscores one of the many ways in which Putin's aggression against Ukraine has been a miserable strategic failure for Russia. 

Ukraine's capacity to produce its own missiles will grow

Serhiy Zgurets, an analyst at Defense Express, said that Ukraine has promising developments in cruise missiles of various modifications.

"Today, we can conclude that Ukraine has the potential to produce its own cruise missiles. These missiles are reaching Russia's Taganrog. There are promising versions of these weapons with different ranges and guidance systems. This fact only confirms that, in addition to hoping for help from the West, the work of our defense industry has positive results," Zgurets said.

The analyst stressed that Ukraine should strengthen its capabilities to produce its own cruise missiles

"The only question is the quantity. It is important that the production of such missiles is scaled up. I think this story will continue and Ukraine will increase its capacity to produce its own cruise missiles," he added.

Border guards create new brigade of the Offensive Guard called “Revenge"

The State Border Guard Service has created another brigade-type unit that is already performing tasks to repel Russian aggression.

It was formed on the basis of the Luhansk Border Guard Detachment of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. It was named "Revenge" and is part of the Offensive Guard brigades.

For almost a decade now, the border guards of the Luhansk detachment have been defending the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine with arms in hand. They have selflessly and professionally proved themselves in the Anti-Terrorist and the Joint Forces Operations. In 2018, the border guard detachment was named after the Hero of Ukraine, Colonel Yevhen Pikus, an officer who heroically died in the Luhansk region in a battle with saboteurs who were supported by Russian armored vehicles and aircraft.