New Missile System 'Downed 24 Ukrainian Jets in Five Days,' Russia Claims

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has said Moscow's forces have received new missile systems that have shot down 24 Ukrainian jets over the past few days.

The defense chief made the claims during an inspection of troops' command posts in Ukraine's Donetsk region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Wednesday. It isn't clear when Shoigu's visit took place.

Shoigu was subject to intense criticism for his handling of the war earlier this year, in the lead-up to an uprising masterminded by the late Wagner Group chief Yevgeny Prigozhin in June. Prigozhin, who was killed in a private jet crash in August, had accused Shoigu of "treason" and said he deprived his mercenary fighters of ammunition as they fought to take the city of Bakhmut in Donetsk.

"We have received systems that have shot down 24 aircraft over the past five days," Shoigu said.

The Russian defense minister also congratulated Russian troops on receiving state awards.

"I heartily congratulate you. You are fighting worthily," said Shoigu, according to state-run news agency Tass.

Moscow's claims about receiving a new missile system and downing 24 Ukrainian aircraft in five days have not been substantiated or independently verified. Newsweek has contacted the defense ministries of Russia and Ukraine via email for comment.

Shoigu, in a rare admission, also said Ukrainian artillery is "causing a lot of problems" for Russian troops.

"We are taking measures," he said.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Shoigu "drew special attention to the timely and sufficient provision of new winter uniforms and insulated footwear for all personnel."

His comments come as both Ukraine and Russia are reported to be sustaining heavy losses in the eastern city of Avdiivka. Moscow is pushing what has been described by the head of the local military administration in Avdiivka, Vitaliy Barabash, as its largest offensive on the frontline town.

Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave an insight into the scale of losses on either side since Ukraine began its long-anticipated counteroffensive in June.

"Since June 4, [Ukraine's counteroffensive] has been continuing. So far there are no results, there are only huge losses [for Ukraine]," Putin told the China Media Group in an interview published by Tass.

"The losses are simply huge—approximately one to eight as a ratio," Putin added.

On October 5, he said that Ukraine had lost 90,000 troops during its counteroffensive, which suggests that Russian losses exceed 11,000 military personnel. Newsweek has been unable to verify the figures.

Kyiv has also claimed downing multiple Russian jets in the span of a few days.

Brigadier General Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, commander of Ukrainian troops in the southern Tavria sector, claimed on October 17 that Ukraine's Armed Forces shot down three Russian Su-25 fighter jets in a week.

Newsweek has been unable to independently verify the losses and has reached out to Russia's Defense Ministry for comment via email.

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