These images purport to show Russian Su-35s fighter jets patrolling and providing cover for bombers and attack aircraft during air strikes on Ukraine.
The footage shows one of the Russian aircraft preparing for takeoff before it can be seen taxiing onto the runway and taking to the skies. It can then be seen flying high in the sky above the clouds before it is seen coming in to land again.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Friday, 20th January, along with a statement claiming they show “combat sorties of Su-35s aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces during a special military operation.
“In the course of performing combat missions, the crews of multirole fighters worked out patrolling in a given area and covering the actions of bomber and attack aircraft, as well as army aviation helicopters during air strikes on military facilities and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“Flights of Russian Aerospace Forces fighters were 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 331st day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 20th January 2023, Russia had lost about 119,300 personnel, 3,139 tanks, 6,241 armoured combat vehicles, 2,129 artillery units, 442 multiple launch rocket systems, 220 air defence systems, 287 warplanes, 277 helicopters, 1,886 drones, 749 cruise missiles, 17 warships, 4,903 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 190 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Eleven NATO countries have pledged significant new military assistance to Ukraine with aid from countries including the United Kingdom, Poland, Estonia and Latvia set to be made up of tens of Stinger defence systems as well as S-60 anti-aircraft guns and training.
The United States has announced a further USD 2.5 billion in aid for Ukraine, including Stryker armoured personnel carriers, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, and Avenger air defence systems and ammunition, according to the Pentagon.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Kyiv expects “strong decisions” from NATO defence leaders and other countries meeting today, Friday, to discuss increasing Ukraine’s ability to fight the invading Russian forces using modern tanks.
The US officials have said that CIA director William Burns had recently travelled to meet President Zelensky in secret.
The official said: “Director Burns traveled to Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian intelligence counterparts as well as President Zelensky and reinforced our continued support for Ukraine and its defence against Russian aggression.”
UK Defence Minister Ben Wallace has said that Britain is planning to send 600 Brimstone missiles to Ukraine. Wallace said: “We’re in it for the long haul.”
Sweden has announced new military aid to Ukraine that will include armoured infantry fighting vehicles and Archer artillery systems.
Poland has said that it is prepared to send a company of German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, “pending why the coalition” of Leopard donors.
But Germany is currently still holding out on sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine or allowing other countries with Leopard 2 tanks to send them to help fight the Russians.
Arvydas Anusauskas, Lithuania’s Defence Minister, has said that several countries will announce that they are sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine at Friday’s meeting of Defence Ministers at the Ramstein airbase in Germany.
The US and German defence ministers met on Thursday amid increasing pressure for Germany to allow Leopard tanks to be sent to Ukraine.
Lloyd Austin and Boris Pistorius met as a German official said that Germany would allow Leopard tanks to be sent to Ukraine if the US agreed to send its own tanks.
But US officials have so far said that Washington has no plans to send American tanks to Ukraine due to maintenance and training issues.
Maia Sandu, the President of Moldova, has requested air defence systems from Moldova’s allies to strengthen its own capabilities as the war in Ukraine, its neighbour, continues.
Russia has said that it will achieve its goals in Ukraine “one way or another” and has said that Russia is ready to hold military operations in Ukraine if Kyiv meets its demands, but Moscow has yet to detail what it wants from Kyiv in order to end the hostilities.
