Russian forces ‘shot down several of their own planes shortly after launching invasion’

‘There was a lot of fratricide’

Russian forces reportedly shot down several of their own aircraft amid the chaos of the early days of the invasion of Ukraine.

Nearly a year on from the beginning of the conflict, it has been claimed by Ukrainian intelligence officers that Russia accidentally shot down their own fighter jets and helicopters by friendly fire.

“It may not have been double digits, but it’s more than one or two” Russian aircraft shot down by friendly fire, one former senior US official told the Financial Times.

“There was a lot of fratricide.”

“They may not have had pilots with combat experience who were willing to fly over Ukraine and risk their necks in that crazy environment.”

Vadym Skibitsky, deputy head of Ukrainian military intelligence, added: “It happened. From artillery units, from tanks, and we even saw it from our intercepts of their conversations. They shot down their own helicopters and they shot down their own planes.”

This month has seen Russia mount infantry assaults across frozen ground in battles described by both sides “as the bloodiest of the war”.

Ukrainian soldiers fire a Pion artillery system at Russian positions near Bakhmut
AP

Ukraine said its forces had repelled Russian assaults along the length of the front line on Thursday on the eve of the war’s anniversary, as President Vladimir Putin, empty-handed after a bloody winter offensive, talked up Russia’s nuclear arsenal.

After a series of strident speeches in the runup to the anniversary of his invasion, Putin announced plans on Thursday to deploy new Sarmat multi-warhead intercontinental ballistic missiles this year. Earlier this week he suspended Russia’s participation in the START nuclear arms control treaty.

Ukrainian refugee Viktoriia Shchielko with her daughter, Gold, aged 9
Viktoriia Shchielko

“I go with my daughter downstairs to the street, see many people running, cars and horror, people feeling scared and trying to run away,” Viktoriia Shchielko told the Standard.

The former presenter and model added:“I remember that feeling of not understanding what had happened. I thought after the First and Second World War people wouldn’t come back to this.”

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