This footage purports to show Russian fighter jets firing ordnance at targets in Ukraine, with one plane flying so low its shadow is clearly visible in the field below.
The images appear to show an Su-25 fighter jet being loaded with ordnance before two of the aircraft can be seen taking off from a runway at an undisclosed location.
The combat aircraft can then be seen flying low over the Ukrainian countryside before firing salvos of missiles at unseen targets.
One of the planes appears to fly so close to the ground that its shadow is clearly visible in a field. Military planes typically fly at low altitude to avoid being detected on enemy radar and shot down.
One of the planes, bearing the now-infamous ‘Z’ symbol on its tail fin, can then be seen coming in to land back at base.
The ‘Z’ is one of the symbols, as well as the letters ‘V’ and ‘O’ that can be seen painted on Russian military vehicles taking part in the invasion of Ukraine.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday, 7th September, along with a statement claiming: “The crews of the Su-25 of the Russian Aerospace Forces launched missile air strikes on military facilities and equipment of units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“The Russian Ministry of Defence has published footage of the combat work of the Su-25 attack aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces. 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. As a result of the combat use of aviation weapons, 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 196th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 7th September, Russia had lost about 50,610 personnel, 2,097 tanks, 4,520 armoured combat vehicles, 1,194 artillery units, 300 multiple launch rocket systems, 156 air defence systems, 237 warplanes, 208 helicopters, 880 drones, 214 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 3,320 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 109 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower, but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
The United Nations has called for a demilitarised zone around the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest. The UN’s Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has asked that the Russian forces withdraw from the nuclear power plant and that the Ukrainian forces agree not to move in on it.
Secretary-General Guterres said: “An agreement on a demilitarised perimeter should be secured.” He added: “Specifically, that will include the commitment by Russian forces to withdraw military personnel and equipment from that perimeter and the commitment by Ukrainian forces not to move in.”
But Vassily Nebenzia, Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, said: “If we demilitarise then the Ukrainians will immediately step in and ruin the whole thing.”
The United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said in a report presented to the Security Council on Tuesday that its experts had found extensive damage at the nuclear power plant.
The Director General of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, said that the experts had witnessed shelling near the power plant, and the report also said that Ukrainian staff working there were working under high stress and pressure. Grossi said: “We are playing with fire and something very, very catastrophic could take place.”
Oleksiy Arestovych, a senior adviser to Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, said on Tuesday that “parallel” counteroffensives are taking place in eastern and north-eastern Ukraine as well as in the south.
Arestovych said: “We are advancing and pressing almost along the entire frontline.” He added: “In the coming months, we can expect the defeat of the Russian army in the Kherson region on the western bank of the Dnieper and a significant advance of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the east.”
