Russia launched modern Kinjal missiles at the plane, targeting Ukrainian pilots who will soon go for training on American F-16 fighter jets, the Ukrainian Air Force reports, citing CNN.
Military officials say one of the four Russian missiles, also known as KH-47s, was shot down.
The other three missiles hit the area of one of the Ukrainian military airfields, which has been a target for the Russians for several months, Air Force spokesman Yuriy Ignat told Ukrainian television.
While Starokostiantyn airfield in western Ukraine was the most frequently targeted, Kolomyia airfield, also located in western Ukraine, in the Ivano-Frankivsk region, was targeted early Friday morning.
“This time our young pilots were targeted. Our young pilots, who will soon leave for training,” said Ignat.
The Ukrainian government official said that Russia “wanted to strike at our youth, depriving us of the prospect of further re-equipment with the latest Western technologies.” But, as we can see, they did not succeed.”
One of the missiles was shot down over the Kyiv region. It is not known what happened to the others.
Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian military have touted the Kinzhal missile, or X-47, as an example of Russia’s modernized missile arsenal, arguing that its hypersonic speed makes it extremely difficult to intercept.
Ukraine has admitted that it struggles to defend against missiles, although it shot down at least one with a US Patriot air defense battery.
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Source: Hot News
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