Victorious news of 726th day of war: two Russian aircraft destroyed, US intends to give Ukraine missiles that will reach Crimea

The White House is ready to provide Ukraine with long-range ATACMS missiles

The Biden administration is actively considering the transfer of powerful ATACMS long-range ballistic missiles to Ukraine. American officials indicate a growing inclination towards providing Ukraine with longer-range missiles, enabling them to strike at increased distances.

Approval from the US Congress could see these ATACMS missiles included in one of the initial military aid packages for Ukraine. The United States is also prepared to send ammunition and artillery promptly upon funding approval.

Transfer timelines for ATACMS missiles could be swift, occurring within hours of a decision. Officials haven't ruled out seeking assistance from allies to supply missiles to Ukraine and replenish their own ATACMS stocks.

The Biden administration had refrained from sending long-range missiles over the past two years, expressing concerns that Ukraine might use them to initiate an attack on Crimea or the Russian Federation, potentially escalating the conflict with Vladimir Putin.

Two Russian aircraft destroyed

On the morning of Monday, February 19, the Ukrainian Air Force reported shooting down two Russian fighter jets in the skies over Ukraine. One of the downed aircraft crashed into the Sea of Azov

"Morning of February 19, 2024. Eastern direction. Minus two more occupiers!" he wrote on Telegram.

Specifically, the aircraft in question are a Su-34 fighter-bomber and a Su-35S fighter jet.

The destruction of the Russian aircraft was confirmed by the Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi. According to him, in the morning, the Air Force destroyed two Russian fighter jets that were launching guided bomb attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops.

"Russian rescuers reported that the pilot of the Su-35 is drifting "face down" in the Sea of Azov. And the Cospas-Sarsat system again tells us where to look for the crew of the Su-34. Let's keep working!" he wrote.

"From the scene. The plane that did not fall is in the sea. Russians are trying to retrieve something. Rybatske is blocked by the military commandant's office. Everyone is running around," he added.

Ukrainian Armed Forces destroy Russiam drone launcher with HIMARS

"While conducting reconnaissance in the southern direction, the crew of the 73rd Marine Centre of the Ukrainian Armed Forces spotted an armed enemy drone of the ZALA type. Having followed the target, it was also possible to record the movement of a mobile launcher with containers for storing ZALA and Lancet drones," the Command of the Ukrainian Special Operations Forces reports.

The Special Operations Forces operators adjusted the HIMARS fire of a missile and artillery unit of the Defence Forces against the enemy target. As a result of the fire damage, the mobile launcher and storage containers for the UAV were destroyed.

Fire at an oil depot in occupied Makiivka

Another military facility in the occupied territory has been targeted - an explosion occurred at an oil depot in Makiivka, Donetsk region, Ukrainian media report. A series of powerful explosions occurred in the morning, followed by thick black smoke.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces are keeping the rear logistics of the occupation forces under fire control, so they are striking at the locations of personnel, including permanent deployment points and field depots with combat kits.

"Makiivka is especially beautiful after the destruction of 'something' by its own oil depots," Petro Andriushchenko, an adviser to the mayor of Mariupol, wrote on this occasion.