MOSCOW: After the territory's namesake capital city was first conquered on March 3, a key official from Russia's Defense Ministry declared that forces had taken control of the entire region of Kherson.

Major General Igor Konashenkov, the Ministry's official representative, confirmed the takeover, saying that troops from the 'Donetsk People's Republic' also pushed through Ukrainian defences and took possession of Panteleymonovka, according to RT News.

In the last 24 hours, Russian air defences shot down 16 Ukrainian military aircraft, including 13 drones, according to the official. One Ukrainian Air Force Su-24 and Su-25, as well as a Mi-8 helicopter, are among the aircraft. According to Konashenkov, Russian forces also struck a Ukrainian airbase near Kramatorsk.

Three hangars, containing four Ukrainian Su-25 attack aircraft, one Mi-24 helicopter, and five Mi-8 helicopters, were destroyed in the strike.

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