Russia-Ukraine Flash Report 22DEC23 03:45 PST - Splash Three
Added 2023-12-22 11:43:05 +0000 UTCUkrainian officials are reporting that three Russian Su-34s in the southern region of Ukraine had an unexpected meeting with PAC-2 interceptors fired by the Patriot Air Defense System, resulting in the loss of all three airframes.
There is chatter on Russian channels that support the claim by Kyiv. We speculate that the aircraft was down by Patriots given a similar air defense ambush in May 2023, and Ukraine received additional Patriot batteries over the last couple of weeks. PAC-2 interceptors would not be used to shoot down ballistic missiles.
Russian Su-34s have been the primary platform to deliver UMPK glide bombs.
If Ukraine can reduce the number of glide bomb strikes, it would significantly change battlefield dynamics, even in the face of ammunition shortages.
