The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) shot down a Su-24 bomber over Bakhmut, from the cockpit of which Yevgeny Prigozhin, one of the founders of PMC Wagner, previously challenged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to a duel in the sky. Information about the downed bomber appeared on social networks and pro-Russian Z-channels on the evening of February 13, on the morning of February 14, Prigozhin's press service confirmed the information by publishing his reply.
Prigozhin answered in the affirmative to the question of journalists about whether the same Su-24, from which the founder of the PMC turned to Zelensky, was shot down over Bakhmut.
“Yes, indeed, it was this board that was attacked today from the ground by enemy air defense systems. The pilot performed a miracle, landed a burning car, having fully completed the combat mission.
The report states that the plane is being repaired.
On February 6, the Telegram channel "Prigozhin's Cap" published a video in which Prigozhin addresses Zelensky while sitting in the cabin of a fighter jet. He claims that he "bombed" on Bakhmut, and promised to board the MiG-29 the next day. The founder of the PMC also suggested that the President of Ukraine "meet in the sky", and in case of his victory, return Artemovsk to Ukraine (as the Russian side calls Bakhmut).