Day 813: missile strike destroys Russia’s two MiG-31 fighter jets, S-400 air defense system, fuel depot in Crimea

Ukrainian troops thwart Russia’s plans to gain a foothold in the built-up area of Vovchansk. A missile strike destroys Russia’s two MiG-31 fighter jets, an S-400 air defense system, and a fuel depot in Crimea. Power outages were enforced across Ukraine amid a lack of generating capacity and imports.  

Ukrainian troops thwart Russia’s plans to gain foothold in built-up area of Vovchansk

Ukrainian troops thwarted Russia’s plans to penetrate deeper into the town of Vovchansk and gain a foothold there, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces said in a morning update on Thursday. 

“Since May 10, when the enemy began an offensive operation on the Kharkiv axis, Ukraine’s defense forces have forced Russian troops to significantly reduce the tempo of their offensive. The enemy’s plans to penetrate deep into the town of Vovchansk and gain a foothold there were thwarted. Since the early hours today, Ukrainian units continue to fight in the built-up area of Vovchansk in the northern part of the city, keeping the enemy within range. The situation is under control,” the General Staff said.

There were 23 combat engagements as of Thursday morning. Russia launched two missile and four air strikes, dropping eight glide bombs on Ukraine. Its forces sent 48 one-way attack drones and carried out 564 attacks at the Ukrainian positions, the report reads.   

Missile strike destroys Russia’s two MiG-31 fighter jets, S-400 air defense system, fuel depot in Crimea

A missile strike on targets in occupied Crimea overnight into Wednesday destroyed an S-400 Triumph air defense system, two Mig-31 fighter jets, and a fuel depot, Russian Telegram channel Astra said.

Missiles hit the Belbek air base near Sevastopol, destroying two MiG-31 fighter jets. A warehouse stocked with fuel caught fire, Astra reported. Eleven Russian service members were wounded.  

In the early hours of Wednesday morning, missiles struck an S-400 Triumph air defense system near the village of Vyshneve, setting it ablaze. Two troops were killed and two others wounded, according to Astra.

Power outages enforced across Ukraine amid lack of generating capacity, imports  

Ukraine’s electricity production and imports are not enough to cover consumption, Serhiy Kovalenko, CEO of energy supplier Yasno said on Thursday. Emergency power outages were introduced in some regions on Thursday morning.

“We chronically lack generation capacity and imports to maintain the current level of consumption,” Kovalenko said in a Facebook post. 

Throughout the night and in the morning, the situation was more difficult than the company expected.

“Yesterday in the evening, Ukrenergo [Ukraine’s national energy operator] established limits for us to work under scheduled outages, but later, at night and in the morning, those limits were amended several times. On the morning, we went far beyond the limits, that’s why emergency outages were enforced,” he added.  

According to Ukraine’s Energy Ministry, the limits were removed at around midnight, but later emergency power outages were enforced in the regions of Dnipro, Kharkiv, Kyiv and in the capital itself.

How Arming Ukraine Makes Peace. Ukraine in Flames #610

In this episode of Ukraine in Flames, we discuss the intricacies of aid provision to Ukraine amidst global stability concerns. The experts in this episode discuss the significance of stabilizing the front line through assistance packages, addressing delays in aid allocation, and the potential implications for Ukraine’s defense strategy. Watch UIF #610 to learn more about what the geopolitical landscape and its impact on Ukraine’s quest for peace and security.

Guests: 

  • Archil Tsintsadze, security policy expert. 
  • Yuriy Lukanov, journalist, writer
  • Ihor Stokoz, expert on international politics