Ukraine downs Russian strategic bomber after strike
STORY: This is the aftermath of a major Russian strike on the Ukrainian city of Dnipro.
At least eight people, including two children, were killed early on Friday (April 19) when missiles rained down over the eastern city and the surrounding central Dnipropetrovsk region.
In retaliation Kyiv says it shot down a Russian strategic bomber it says took part in the long-range strike.
These photographs from Telegram appear to show the wrecked bomber in Russia’s southern Stavropol region - hundreds of miles from Ukrainian-controlled territory.
This is the first time during the to year-long war that Ukraine has downed a bomber within Russia’s borders.
While the Russian defense ministry confirmed the crash, it said it was due to a technical malfunction.
In light of the attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy called once again for urgent air defenses as the country’s supplies dwindle due to a slowdown in Western military aid.
The president has himself been visiting troops and inspecting fortifications on the frontline near Donetsk.
While his foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba has been in Italy meeting with G7 ministers.
“The West has the capacity to be efficient in all crises. And this must be clear, it has the capacity, military capacity, and financial capacity, but it has to provide Ukraine with all necessary resources as soon as possible to save Europe from a larger war. And this was the main topic of my conversations and we identified specific steps which Western partners will make to help Ukraine under these circumstances.”
Twenty-five months into Moscow's full-scale invasion and Ukraine is on the back foot.
In recent weeks Russia has stepped up its long-range aerial assaults on Ukraine's energy system and other targets.
Moscow has been ratcheting up the pressure on Kyiv as Russian forces have been slowly advancing in the east.
Russia denies targeting civilians during its airstrikes and says the energy system is a legitimate target.
