Russia Says Its Su-25 Fighter Jets Fired Missiles At Ukrainian Armoured Vehicles And Positions

These images purport to show Russian Su-25 fighter jets firing missiles at Ukrainian armoured vehicles and military positions.

The footage shows a Russian pilot taxiing on a runway at an undisclosed location before taking to the skies along with another aircraft.

Both the planes can be seen sporting the now infamous ‘V’ symbol on their tailfins.

The ‘V’ is one of the symbols, as well as the letters ‘Z’ and ‘O’ that can be seen painted on Russian military vehicles taking part in the invasion of Ukraine.

The aircraft can be seen flying low over countryside before opening fire on unseen targets.

After firing their ordnance, one of the aircraft can be seen coming in to land on a runway.

Russian SU-25 from low altitudes carry missile strikes on military facilities and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Ukraine in undated footage. According to the Russian MoD as a result of combat use, camouflaged fortified field positions and armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed. (@mod_russia/Newsflash)

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Tuesday, 22nd November, along with a statement claiming: “We cover from low altitudes: the crews of the Su-25 attack aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces launched rocket air strikes on military facilities and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“Missile launches were carried out in pairs from low altitudes. After the use of aviation weapons, the crews performed a manoeuvre, releasing heat traps, and returned to the departure airfield.

“As a result of combat use, camouflaged fortified field positions and armoured vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed.”

We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 272nd day of the war.

Picture shows Russian SU-25s in pairs on a combat mission in Ukraine in undated footage. According to the Russian MoD as a result of combat use, camouflaged fortified field positions and armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed. (@mod_russia/Newsflash)

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 22nd November, Russia had lost about 85,000 personnel, 2,895 tanks, 5,827 armoured combat vehicles, 1,882 artillery units, 395 multiple launch rocket systems, 209 air defence systems, 278 warplanes, 261 helicopters, 1,537 drones, 480 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,393 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 161 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

Ukraine is evacuating civilians from recaptured areas of the Kherson and Mykolaiv regions amid concern that damage to the local infrastructure is too severe for people to stay during winter.

Russian SU-25 from low altitudes carry missile strikes on military facilities and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Ukraine in undated footage. According to the Russian MoD as a result of combat use, camouflaged fortified field positions and armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed. (@mod_russia/Newsflash)

Local residents have reportedly been advised to relocate to safer and less affected areas in central and western Ukraine.

Both the Kremlin and Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, have accused each other of shelling the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant – Europe’s largest – with the Ukrainian president appealing to NATO members to ensure that Ukraine’s nuclear power plants are protected from “Russian sabotage”.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that Ukraine’s health system is currently “facing its darkest days in the war”.

Dr Hans Henri P Kluge, the WHO regional director for Europe, said that half of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure is currently damaged or destroyed, with 10 million people currently without electricity.

Temperatures are expected to plummet to as low as minus 20 degrees Celsius in some parts of the country this winter.

Ukraine’s Prosecutor General has said that they have identified four locations where Russian soldiers tortured prisoners in the city of Kherson.

It said that the Russians had set up “pseudo-law enforcement agencies” in detention centres and a police station before the Russian forces abandon the city.

Russian SU-25 from low altitudes carry missile strikes on military facilities and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Ukraine in undated footage. According to the Russian MoD as a result of combat use, camouflaged fortified field positions and armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed. (@mod_russia/Newsflash)

Russian soldiers have also been accused of burning bodies at a landfill site on the edge of the city.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that his country has no plans to call up more Russian soldiers to fight in Ukraine.

British intelligence has said that Russian forces are currently constructing defensive positions that are staffed by poorly trained reservists near the Svatove area of the Luhansk region of north-eastern Ukraine.

The British Ministry of Defence said that with Russia’s south-western frontline now more defendable on the eastern bank of the Dnieper River, the Svatove area is thought to be a more vulnerable flank of the Russian frontline.

Forty-five countries and organisations are set to meet in the French capital Paris on Monday to discuss providing millions in aid to Moldova, as fears increase that Ukraine’s western neighbour could be further destabilised by the ongoing war.

Russian SU-25 from low altitudes carry missile strikes on military facilities and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in Ukraine in undated footage. According to the Russian MoD as a result of combat use, camouflaged fortified field positions and armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed. (@mod_russia/Newsflash)

Moldova is reportedly buckling under the effects of rising food and energy prices, combined with the arrival of about 2.5 million refugees in the country as a result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.