Victorious news on 546th day of war: strike on Russian air defense system, capture of Russian helicopter with its crew

Ukrainian Armed Forces target a Russian military aircraft in the Black Sea

Near Zmiiinyi (Snake) island, the Security and Defence Forces of Ukraine targeted a Russian military aircraft that tried to attack Ukraine’s defenders.

"In the territorial waters of Ukraine near Zmiinyi Island, in the area of the so-called Boyko towers (Boyko towers are two drilling platforms in the Black Sea - ed.), a collision between a Russian military aircraft and Ukrainian combat boats took place," the statement said.

Russian enemy aircraft attempted to attack Ukrainian Defence Forces warships.

Russian propaganda immediately spread a fake about the alleged defeat and sinking of the Ukrainian defenders' vessel.

"In fact, the Russian missile fell into the water and continued to move towards the Moscow cruiser - no damage was done to the Ukrainian military," the military explained.

In response to the enemy's actions, the Ukrainian Armed Forces struck at the Russian aircraft. A missile fired from a Ukrainian combat boat damaged the Russian aircraft. It left the scene and flew towards the nearest airfield.

Special operation with a Russian pilot conducted by Ukrainian military intelligence

Information was posted on the Internet that a Russian Mi-8 helicopter had recently landed at one of Ukraine's airfields, and the crew surrendered to the Ukrainian military. The Defence Intelligence of Ukraine confirmed this information and promised to provide details later

"Ukrainian intelligence lured the Mi-8 pilot to Ukraine. The helicopter was flying between two air bases and transporting parts for Su-27 and Su-30 SM fighters," the statement said.

The Mi-8 landed in the Kharkiv region and remained in Ukraine. The Russian helicopter is already in Kyiv. During the telethon, intelligence representative Andriy Yusov commented on reports that a Russian Mi-8 combat helicopter with the entire crew had arrived in Ukraine and surrendered to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

According to him, there is preliminary information. "There will be official information. We need to wait a little bit, we are working on it, including with the crew. Everything is fine, there will be news," he said.

Russia now has less coastal anti-ship missile systems in Crimea

Explosions were heard in the temporarily occupied Crimea on Wednesday, August 23. 

They hit a military facility on Cape Tarkhankut, which destroyed a Russian long- and medium-range S-400 Triumph air defense system.

"On 23 August 2023, at about 10.00 a.m., near the village of Olenivka on Cape Tarkhankut in the temporarily occupied Crimea, an explosion occurred that destroyed the Russian S-400 Triumph long-range and medium-range air defense system," the intelligence report said.

According to intelligence, the explosion completely destroyed the system, the missiles installed on it, and enemy personnel.

It is noted that this is a painful blow to the air defense system of invading Russian forces, which will have a serious impact on further events in the occupied Crimea.

Earlier, the adviser to the mayor of Mariupol Petro Andriushchenko reported on his Telegram channel: "In Crimea, the Bastion coastal anti-ship missile system was hit. It is one of the carriers of the Oniks missile used by Russian forces to strike Ukraine. Radar stations were also damaged," Andriushchenko wrote.

Ukraine’s Air Force target 11 Russian drones overnight

On August 23, the Russian army launched Shahed attack drones on the territory of Ukraine. Air defense forces managed to destroy 11 enemy UAVs

Russian forces launched Shahed-136/131 UAVs from the southeast. 20 attack drones were launched from the area of Primorsko-Akhtarsk in the Russian Federation and Cape Chauda in Crimea.

The Air Force, in cooperation with air defense officers, targeted 11 Russian drones.

Nine of them were destroyed in Odesa region, and two more - in Zaporizhzhia region.

The UN court will hear the case of Russian genocide against Ukraine

The International Court of Justice has set a date for hearings on Ukraine's genocide claim against Russia - they will take place from September 18 to 27, 2023.

It is also noted that the hearings will begin with Russia's arguments, followed by Ukraine's.

In addition, representatives of 32 states that supported Ukraine in its lawsuit against Russia are scheduled to speak on September 20. These are Germany, Australia, Austria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Belgium, Croatia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Ireland, Luxembourg, Sweden, Bulgaria, Canada, the Netherlands, Cyprus, Spain, France, Greece, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, New Zealand, Poland, Portugal, Romania, the United Kingdom, and Slovenia.