Russia Says It Launched Missiles At Ukrainian Military Positions From Su-25 Aircraft

Russia has said that it has launched missiles at Ukrainian military positions from Su-25 aircraft.

The footage appears to show a Russian fighter plane being prepared for takeoff before a pilot can be seen inspecting it and climbing into the cockpit.

The aircraft can then be seen taxiing onto the runway and taking off into the sky along with a second plane.

The Russian planes can then be seen flying very low over countryside while firing their missiles at unseen targets before they come in to land back at the base.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday, 14th December, along with a statement claiming: "The crews of the Su-25 of the Russian Aerospace Forces launched missile strikes on the objects of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the zone of the special military operation.

"Attack aviation crews carried out rocket air strikes on military facilities and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"Missile launches were carried out in pairs from low altitudes.

"After the use of aviation weapons, the crews performed a manoeuvre, releasing heat traps, and returned to the departure airfield.

"As a result of combat use, camouflaged fortified field positions and armoured vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed.

"After the sorties, the engineering and technical staff completed the tasks of servicing aircraft and preparing aviation equipment for a second combat sortie."

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 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.