These images purport to show a Russian Su-34 fighter-bomber carrying out a combat operation against Ukrainian military positions in which they reportedly fired missiles.
The footage shows some ordnance on the Russian aircraft before technicians can be seen fitting what appears to be a missile under the wing of the plane.
THe footage then shows a Russian aircraft taking off from a runway and taking to the skies.
The strike aircraft can then be seen flying over countryside before the footage cuts to the view through its targeting system.
The footage then apparently shows the plane coming in to land.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Tuesday, 25th October, along with a statement claiming that they show the “combat work of crews of Su-34 fighter-bombers of the Western Military District during the special military operation”.
The Russian MoD also claimed: “The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, in the course of conducting a special military operation, continue to strike with precision-guided weapons at military infrastructure facilities and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. To solve the assigned tasks, combat sorties of operational-tactical aircraft are carried out from operational airfields.
“During combat sorties, the crews of Su-34 fighter-bombers use air-to-surface guided high-precision missiles. They are designed to destroy enemy strongholds and fortified targets.
“Departures for combat use are carried out in daylight and at night in all weather conditions.
“Before departures, aviation equipment undergoes comprehensive training. Specialists of the engineering and technical staff on the ground check the operation of all systems of aviation complexes, carry out the suspension of aviation weapons and refuel aircraft.
“Su-34 fighter-bombers are designed to carry out precise missile and bomb strikes against enemy ground targets in operational and tactical depth, as well as to destroy enemy air targets.”
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 244th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 25th October, Russia had lost about 68,420 personnel, 2,611 tanks, 5,321 armoured combat vehicles, 1,674 artillery units, 377 multiple launch rocket systems, 190 air defence systems, 271 warplanes, 248 helicopters, 1,372 drones, 350 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,054 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 149 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Defence Minister, has reportedly told some of his Western counterparts that the war is heading towards “uncontrolled escalation”, with Moscow reportedly assessing how it will react if it is defeated in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson.
Kyrylo Budanov, the Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, has said that Russia is sending new military units into Kherson in preparation for the advancing Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Budanov also said that Russia would only slow down the advance of Ukraine’s troops in the south of the country by approximately two weeks were it to blow up the nearby Kakhovka dam.
The United Nations’ (UN) nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is sending inspectors to Ukraine after the country requested that an expert mission be sent to disapprove Russia’s claims that Ukraine is planning to use a “dirty bomb”.
The UN has said that urgent steps need to be taken to deal with a backlog of over 150 ships involved in the Ukrainian grain export deal in the Black Sea. Ukraine has said that Russian inspections are creating “significant” delays and are “politically motivated”.
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has asked Israel to support its fight against Russia by providing Israeli air defence systems. Israel has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but has so far only assisted Ukraine by giving humanitarian aid and defensive equipment.
Anton Krasovsky, a pro-Putin television presenter, has been accused of inciting genocide after saying that Ukrainian children should be “drowned” and “burned” alive during an interview on the state-funded channel RT.
Krasovsky was suspended pending an investigation after his comments caused significant backlash. The head of Russia’s investigative committee has said that it will review his comments as part of a possible criminal investigation.
