Russia has said that one of its Su-35S fighter jets has shot down a Ukrainian plane.

The images appear to show a Russian warplane preparing for takeoff at a snow-covered airbase before it can be seen shooting down the runway and taking to the skies.

The footage then apparently shows the aircraft flying high above the clouds before the images cut to the aircraft’s targeting system and it firing missiles at unseen targets.

It can then be seen reportedly coming in to land back at base.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Monday, 20th February, along with a statement claiming: “Crews of Su-35S fighter jets of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down a plane of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“During one of the sorties, the crews of the Su-35S of the Aerospace Forces of Russia timely detected and destroyed the aircraft of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“In the course of the special military operation, pilots of multi-role fighters patrol assigned areas, cover the actions of bomber and attack aircraft, as well as army aviation helicopters. Flights of Russian Aerospace Forces fighters are carried out with suspended missiles of various classes.”

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

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 362nd day of the full-scale war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 20th February 2023, Russia had lost about 143,680 personnel, 3,316 tanks, 6,553 armoured combat vehicles, 2,334 artillery units, 471 multiple launch rocket systems, 243 air defence systems, 299 warplanes, 287 helicopters, 2,018 drones, 873 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,209 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 225 units of special equipment.

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

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has warned that China may be about to provide Russia with arms for its war in Ukraine.

Josep Borrell, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs, has said that the war could be over “in weeks” if the EU fails to increase how much it is supplying in ammunition to Ukraine.

Borrell said: “We are in urgent war mode.”

He added: “This shortage of ammunition has to be solved quickly.”

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday that his forces were inflicting “extraordinarily significant” losses on Moscow’s forces near Vuhledar, a town in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine.

President Zelensky also said that “the more losses Russia suffers there … in Bakhmut, Vuhledar, Marinka, Kreminna – the faster we will be able to end this war with Ukraine’s victory.”

The United States and Ukraine are “still having discussions” about F-16 fighter jets as there is continued pressure to supply Kyiv with warplanes.

Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US Ambassador to the United Nations, has indicated that Washington could reverse its refusal to provide Ukraine with F-16 jets.

Thomas-Greenfield said on Sunday: “We’re still having discussions on the ground with the Ukrainians. And, again, we have to ensure — and I think Secretary Blinken said this as well — that they have the training necessary and the capacity to use weapon systems that we provide to them.”

President Zelensky said after speaking to French President Emmanuel on Sunday by phone that he thanked the French President “for understanding our needs and for expressing jointly that we cannot waste any opportunity or a single week in our defence against Russian aggression.”

Zelensky added: “We also discussed important decisions that we are planning for this week – for our year of resistance.”

France has said that it will send AMX-10 light armoured vehicles, which it has promised to Ukraine, “by the end of next week”.

President Macron has reportedly said that he wants Russia to lose but does not want to see it “crushed”.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said that he is going to discuss increasing the number of American soldiers in Poland with US President Joe Biden.

He said: “We are in the process of discussion with President Biden’s administration about making their presence more permanent and increasing them.”