Russian Fighter Jet Shot Down By Ukraine, Moscow Claims of Further Advancement In Donetsk

Kyiv: Ukrainian forces on Saturday said that it has shot down a Russian fighter plane, while Moscow asserted it had made territorial gains in eastern Ukraine. 

The bomber was downed near Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, according to Serhiy Horbunov, head of the Kostiantynivka Military Administration. Photos revealed the charred remains of the aircraft after it crashed into a house, igniting a fire.

In the same partially occupied Donetsk province, Russia's Defense Ministry claimed control over the village of Zhelanne Druhe. If confirmed, this would follow Ukrainian forces' withdrawal from the front-line town of Vuhledar just three days earlier, where they had mounted a hard-fought defense for two years.

Russian Fighter Jet Shot Down

While this loss may not significantly alter the war's trajectory, it reflects Ukraine's deteriorating position, partly due to Washington's refusal to allow strikes on targets deep within Russia, which limits Kyiv's ability to diminish Moscow's military capabilities.

Zelenskyy Will Present His Victory Plan to Allies 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Saturday that he will present his “victory plan” at the October 12 meeting of the Ramstein group of nations that supplies arms to Ukraine.

“We will present the victory plan — clear, concrete steps towards a just end to the war. The determination of our partners and the strengthening of Ukraine are what can stop Russian aggression,” he wrote on X, adding that the 25th Ramstein meeting would be the first to take place at the leaders' level.

Last week, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented his plan to U.S. President Joe Biden during their meeting in Washington. While the details of the plan remain confidential, it is known to include Ukraine's bid for NATO membership and requests for long-range missiles to target sites within Russia.

In the meantime, Russian shelling in southern Ukraine has resulted in two fatalities in the Zaporizhzhia region, as reported by regional Governor Ivan Fedorov. Ukraine's air force indicated that overnight, Russia launched three guided missiles and 13 attack drones at Ukraine, all of which were intercepted; three drones were downed over the Odesa region, and an additional ten were also lost.

In Horlivka, a city in the partially occupied Donetsk region, nine people were injured when a Ukrainian drone struck a passenger bus, according to the city's Russian-installed Mayor, Ivan Prikhodko.

On Saturday, Russia's Defense Ministry announced that its air defenses shot down 10 Ukrainian drones overnight across three border regions, including seven in Belgorod, two in Kursk, and one in Voronezh.

(With inputs from AP)