Ukrainian Armed Forces down Russian Su-24M bomber preparing to strike Odesa region

The Ukrainian Air Force reported this.

"It looks like the cruiser Moskva (In April 2022, Ukrainian forces sank the Russian cruiser Moskva - ed.) will soon become an aircraft carrier! I am pleased to inform you about the destruction of a Russian Su-24M bomber near Zmiinyi Island, which, under the cover of a Su-30SM fighter jet, tried to launch a missile and bomb attack on the south of Odesa region," wrote Mykola Oleshchuk, commander of the Air Force.

According to Oleshchuk, the Southern Air Command’s unit "sent the Russian Su-24M after the Russian warship to hell".

Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat said that the Russians sent a plane to search for the pilots of the downed bomber.

"At the moment, a Russian An-26 search and rescue plane is trying to find Russian pilots in the Black Sea - the crew of a Su-24M bomber! Not a very good solution. The ends are in the water!" the speaker wrote on Facebook.

About two hours later, he noted that the Russian An-26 "does not give up hope" and is still searching for the crew.

"Like vultures still circling the crash site... Eternal immersion, "brothers"!" Ignat wrote.

• On the night of Tuesday, December 5, the Russian invaders attacked Ukraine with 17 attack drones and 6 S-300 anti-aircraft guided missiles. Air defense forces destroyed 10 enemy Shaheds.