Russia claims to have shot down hundreds of Ukrainian planes, Odessa airport hit by missiles
The Russian Defense Ministry announced that it had destroyed 142 fighter jets, 112 helicopters and 658 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) after more than 2 months of launching a special military operation in Ukraine.
According to TASS news agency, the above figures were given by Major General Igor Konashenkov, spokesman.Ministry of National Defensea, April 30.
Mr. Konashenkov also said that the Russian army destroyed 279 surface-to-air missile systems, 2,656 tanks and other armored vehicles, 307 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,189 artillery pieces and mortars, as well as 2,492 military vehicles of various types.
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| Major General Igor Konashenkov, spokesman for the Russian Ministry of Defense. Photo: Russian Ministry of Defense |
According to the Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Russia's "high-precision air-launched missiles" attacked five Ukrainian military sites on the night of April 29, including four ammunition and fuel depots near the settlements of Berezovoye, Vozdvizhenka, Pokrovskoye and Barvenkovo and "an area where nationalist forces and military equipment were concentrated."
In addition, Russian Aerospace Forces attacked 9 areas and eliminated 120 “nationalists”, 4 tanks and 6 armored vehicles. Meanwhile, missile forces attacked 2 Ukrainian command posts, a rocket artillery battery and a radar.
Odessa airport hit by missile
On the Telegram application, Mr. Maxim Marchenko - Governor of Odessa province in southern Ukraine, said on April 30 that a Russian missile hit and destroyed the runway at Odessa city airport, but caused no casualties.
"Today (April 30), the enemy attacked with Bastion coastal defense missiles launched from Crimea. The runway of Odessa airport was destroyed. Thank God there were no casualties," Governor Marchenko said in a video on Telegram.
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| International airport in the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa. Photo: Aviation 24 |
Russia wants to minimize the risk of nuclear war
TASS news agency quoted Vladimir Yermakov, head of the Russian Foreign Ministry's non-proliferation department, as saying that Moscow believes the risk of nuclear war should be kept to a minimum.
According to Mr. Yermakov, any armed conflict between nuclear powers must be prevented, and these countries must follow the logic laid down in official documents on the prevention of nuclear war. “Russia clearly follows this logic,” the official said.
In addition, Mr. Yermakov stated that the dialogue between Moscow and Washington on strategic stability has been “frozen”, and can only be resumed after Russia completes its special military operation in Ukraine.
The statement came just days after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned the West not to underestimate the threat of nuclear war over the conflict in Ukraine.
