These images purport to show a Russian long-range nuclear-capable bomber flying over the Sea of Japan.
The footage shows the Russian bomber, reportedly a nuclear-capable Tu-95MS, preparing for takeoff before taking to the sky from a snow-covered base at an undisclosed location.
It can then be seen flying over a landscape blanketed in white before it is seen flying over a large body of water.
The footage then shows the aircraft coming in to land.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday, 14th December, along with a statement claiming: “The crews of two Tu-95MS long-range strategic missile carriers conducted patrols in the airspace over the neutral waters of the Sea of Japan.
“The flight duration was over seven hours. Fighter escort was provided by the crews of the Su-30SM and Su-35S of the Air Force and Air Defense formation of the Eastern Military District.
“Long-range aviation pilots regularly fly over the neutral waters of the Arctic, the North Atlantic, the Black and Baltic Seas, and the Pacific Ocean. All flights of aircraft of the Aerospace Forces of Russia are carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
The Tu-95MS is capable of carrying a thermonuclear payload weighing up to 33,000 lbs.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 294th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 14th December, Russia had lost about 96,000 personnel, 2,970 tanks, 5,937 armoured combat vehicles, 1,931 artillery units, 404 multiple launch rocket systems, 211 air defence systems, 281 warplanes, 264 helicopters, 1,617 drones, 592 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,562 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 171 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
The United States is said to be finalising plans to provide Ukraine with the Patriot missile defence system.
US federal prosecutors have said that a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) agent is among seven people accused of helping Russia to illegally obtain electronic components of a sensitive nature from American companies.
The electronic components are said to have civilian uses, but they can also be used to make hypersonic and nuclear weapons.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that generators are as important as tanks when it comes to helping Ukrainians survive through the winter after Russian President Vladimir Putin targeted the country’s energy infrastructure with waves of missile strikes.
President Zelensky told an emergency conference that was convened in Paris that Ukraine will need an additional EUR 800 million to make it through the winter and a further EUR 1.5 billion to repair the damage done to its energy grid.
Over EUR 1 billion was raised to help Ukraine over the winter months at the Paris aid conference, according to France’s Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonna.
The money, which has been pledged by 46 countries and 24 international organisations, is to be used to restore some of Ukraine’s damaged energy network, to support the food sector and to help with water supply, health and transportation.
Heavy fighting was ongoing between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk on Tuesday.
The Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, has said that Ukrainian air-defence systems shot down 10 Iranian-made Shahed drones today, Wednesday.
