Ukraine Air Force Reports Downing Three Russian Aircraft and Helicopters Each

Fifteen Russian aerial targets were shot down on April 21, according to preliminary data provided by the Ukrainian Air Force.

Among them were two combined air and ground Su-35 and Su-34 jets, as well as a Su-25 ground attack plane, the military branch said on social media.

Russia’s most contemporary assault helicopter, the Ka-52 Alligator, was also reported shot down and two multi-purpose Mi-8 helicopters.

Nine Orlan-10 battle drones were also downed the same day.

The “Russian offensive in [the] Donbas has stalled. The enemy focuses on shelling Ukrainian defensive lines along the contact line, but is unable to advance forward,” open-source intelligence site Military Land said late on April 21.

At the besieged Azov Sea coastal city of Mariupol, the open-source site said Russian claims of fully controlling it are a falsehood.

Combined Ukrainian forces numbering more than 1,000 still control the sprawling Azovstal steel plant as their last bastion with its network of tunnels, but remain without reinforcements and replenishment of supplies.

“Russia claimed the full control of Mariupol today, but that’s false and Ukrainian troops remain besieged in Azovstal. Russian president Putin ordered to stop the operation to capture the plant to save the lives of Russian soldiers. The first Russian units have reportedly begun to withdraw from Mariupol,” Military Land said.