Ukraine shot down seven Russian fighter jets in one week, says Zelensky

Ukraine has shot down seven Russian fighter jets in the past seven days, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“Seven combat planes – Russian 'Su' jets – were shot down in one week”, pointed out the head of state in his evening speech this Wednesday (21).

Russia has not publicly commented on the case, and CNN could not independently verify these numbers.

Russia has lost 338 aircraft since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported on Wednesday.

Military personnel decorated by Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin awarded medals to Russian soldiers on Wednesday as the military continues to celebrate its victory in capturing the town of Avdiivka in eastern Ukraine after Ukrainian forces withdrew.

Putin traveled to the Chkalovskiy airfield on the outskirts of Moscow to bestow state honors on Air and Space Force soldiers, according to a Kremlin statement on Wednesday (21).

Addressing the soldiers, Putin thanked them for their “courage and bravery” in displaying “the highest skill in carrying out their tasks.”

The Russian leader was received by his Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who gave a brief report, according to the statement.

Earlier on Wednesday, Russia's army chief, Valery Gerasimov, visited troops near the front line in eastern Ukraine and presented awards to soldiers who took part in the attack on Avdiivka, the Russian Defense Ministry said.