Russia has said that its Su-25SM fighter jets fired missiles at Ukrainian positions while flying low over countryside.

The images purport to show one of the Russian fighters being partially loaded with ordnance before it can be seen taxiing onto a runway and taking off.

The images then cut to two fighter jets taking to the skies before they are apparently seen flying low over countryside and firing missiles at unseen targets.

The aircraft can then be seen taking a base of action to avoid being shot down, with their shadows seen on the ground not far below.

The footage then purports to show both aircraft landing back at base.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Monday, 22nd May, along with a statement claiming: “Assault aviation of the Central Military District performs combat missions in the zone of the special military operation.”

The Russian MoD added: “The crews of Su-25SM attack aircraft of the Central Military District (TsVO) completed combat missions in the zone of the special military operation (SVO).

“Flying over the terrain at a height of no more than 25 metres at a speed of 900 kph, the pilots in combat pairs approached the line of contact and launched rocket attacks on the nationalists’ manpower and lightly armoured vehicles.

“Launches were carried out with 80-mm cumulative-fragmentation unguided rockets at area targets with a pitch-up technique, accompanied by a sharp climb and lifting the nose of the aircraft above the horizon to set a certain angle for the launched missiles.

“After hitting the target, the pilots performed an anti-missile manoeuvre with the release of heat traps and returned to their base airfield to prepare for the next flight.

“The command of the Central Military District notes the high efficiency of the work of the crews of the Su-25 aircraft, which can perform combat missions in any weather conditions.”

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 453rd day of the full-scale war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 22nd May 2023, Russia had lost about 203,880 personnel, 3,785 tanks, 7,407 armoured combat vehicles, 3,278 artillery units, 565 multiple launch rocket systems, 327 air defence systems, 309 warplanes, 294 helicopters, 2,830 drones, 1,011 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 6,129 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 427 units of special equipment.

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

Moscow has claimed to have captured Bakhmut but Ukraine has said that its forces still have a foothold in the embattled eastern Ukrainian city and were attempting to encircle it.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the notorious Russian mercenary organisation Wagner, has posed with soldiers among the ruins and claimed to have control of the whole city.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Prigozhin and Russia’s military forces on “the completion of the operation to liberate Artyomovsk”, which is the Soviet name for Bakhmut.

But Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking of the G7 summit in Japan, said on Sunday: “Bakhmut is not occupied by the Russian Federation as of today. There are no two or three interpretations of this.”

Hanna Maliar, Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister, has said that Kyiv’s forces were still “holding the defence” in part of the city, adding: “Our forces have taken the city in a semi-encirclement, which gives us the opportunity to destroy the enemy.”

She also said: “The enemy has to defend himself in the part of the city he controls.”

Zelensky has secured new military aid from the United States while at the G7 summit in Japan, with US President Joe Biden telling Zelensky that the United States is doing everything possible to bolster the country’s defences.

Biden also said that he had assurances from Zelensky that he would not use F-16 fighter jets provided by the West to venture into Russian territory.

Biden added that F-16 fighter jets could however be used “wherever Russian troops are within Ukraine and the area.”

Speaking at the G7, Zelensky said that his plan to end Russia’s war in his country was “an obvious expression of rationality”.

He also thanked Western leaders for making it possible to achieve “a level of cooperation which ensures that democracy, international law, and freedom are respected.”