Russia Says Its Su-25 Fighter Jets Fired Missiles At Camouflaged Ukrainian Positions

Russia has said that its Su-25 fighter jets have fired missiles at camouflaged Ukrainian positions and armoured vehicles, as these images purport to show.

The footage begins by showing one of the Russian aircraft being refuelled and resupplied with defensive measures before it can be seen taxiing on a runway at an undisclosed location.

Two of the aircraft can then be seen taking to the skies before they are seen flying low over snow-covered countryside.

One of the aircraft can then be seen firing missiles at unseen targets before coming in to land back at base.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday, 8th February, along with a statement claiming: "The crews of the Su-25 attack aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces in the zone of the special military operation launched 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 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 350th day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 8th February 2023, Russia had lost about 134,100 personnel, 3,253 tanks, 6,458 armoured combat vehicles, 2,236 artillery units, 461 multiple launch rocket systems, 228 air defence systems, 295 warplanes, 285 helicopters, 1,961 drones, 796 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,112 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 211 units of special equipment.

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

Ukraine’s military said on Tuesday that the previous 24 hours had been the most deadly in the war so far for Russian soldiers.

Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark have issued a joint statement saying that they will provide Ukraine with at least 100 refurbished Leopard 1 main battle tanks.

The defence ministers of the three countries said in the statement that sending Ukraine the refurbished, older tanks was “to support Ukraine in their endeavour to withstand Russian aggression” and that the war machines would be delivered to Ukraine “within the coming months”.

The Ministry of Defence of Germany has said that some Leopard 2 main battle tanks will be ready for Ukraine by the end of March.

The head of the German defence company Rheinmetall has also said that it plans to send 20 to 25 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine this year.

Ihor Klymenko has become the new Ukrainian Minister of Interior Affairs and Vasily Malyuk has become the new head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the country’s main intelligence and security agency, after their appointments were approved by the Ukraine’s Parliament.

Ukraine’s top national security official, Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s national security and defence council, has said that he believes Kyiv will eventually be supplied with American F-16 fighter jets and that it was “only a matter of time”.

Danilov also suggested that Ukraine could strike Russia on its own territory, beyond occupied Ukraine.

The UK Ministry of Defence has said that Russia “lacks the munitions and manoeuvre units required for successful offensives”.

The UK MoD added: “Senior commanders likely make plans requiring undermanned, inexperienced units to achieve unrealistic objectives due to political and profession pressure.”

The Minister of Defence of Russia, Sergei Shoigu, has said that Western weaponry supplied to Kyiv is “dragging” NATO into the conflict, which could lead to an “unpredictable level of escalation”.