ukrainian. sadly, this u.s. official says that sending the 24 mig 29s from poland would not help stop the encirclement of the population centers because the airspace is still so contested. the u.s. is trying to get ukraine more sophisticated defense systems like the russian equivalent of patriot missile system. ukraine has shot down about 15 to 20 fixed wing aircraft and 25 hell continuers according to u.s. assessments and open source imagery. today russia struck a ukrainian air field 87 miles west of lviv. most likely they were targeted
killed more than 14,000 russian troops and shot down 110 combat choppers. cnn can t confirm the numbers but the russians haven t updated their casualty figures in more than two weeks. instead calling their, quote, military operation is going as planned. russian defense ministry released this video of helicopter gunships allegedly attacking a ukrainian air field. but still, vladimir putin clearly feels the need to rally his nation. making a rare appearance at moscow s rally at a stadium where a strange tech glitch cut off this rally. translator: the best, shoulder to shoulder, if need be protecting each other like brothers, shielding one another with their bodies in the battlefield. we haven t had this unity for a long time. reporter: but the russians
four nato countries have in their inventories. ukraine has shot down 15 to 20 russian fixed air aircraft and 20 to 25 russian helicopters, according to u.s. assessments and verified open source imagery. today russia struck a ukrainian air field, 87 miles directly south of lviv, the first time they have struck in the west. russia used long range missiles, we are told, to strike the air field, most likely it was targeted to send a signal to poland and to nato not to send the mig-29s, that would be an air field the migs would fly from near poland. the u.s. is working to get more ground missiles and air defense into ukraine. russia is flying an average of 200 flights per day, but most are not in ukrainian air space where they could be shot down.
but the russians haven t 81 dated their casualty figures in more than two weeks instead claiming what they call their, quote, military special operation is going as planned. russia s defense ministry released this video of helicopter gunships allegedly attacking a ukrainian air field. still, vladimir putin clearly feels the need to rally his nation. making a rare appearance at a massive rally at moscow s main stadium where a strange technical glitch cut off his speech, but not before he praised russian troops. translator: the best proof is the way i ve always applied in this operation, shoulder to shoulder, supporting each other, if need be, supporting each other, shooting in the battlefield. we haven t had this unity in a long time. reporter: but the russians appear so angry at u.s. and weapons munitions in ukraine, they vow to target any entries