These images obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defense purport to show their fighter jets allegedly carrying out combat operations against Ukrainian forces.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) on the evening of Friday, July 22.
The footage begins by showing a large number of fighter jets bearing the now-infamous letter ‘Z’ on them.
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.
They can be seen apparently being loaded with ammunition before taking to the skies. The fighter jets, flying low, can then be seen apparently firing their ordnance at unseen targets before returning to base.
The Russian MoD claimed that the images show the “combat work of Su-25 attack aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces during a special operation.”
They claimed: “Crews of ground attack aviation carried out rocket air strikes on military facilities and the equipment of units 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 armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were destroyed.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
Zenger News contacted the Russian Ministry of Defense for further comment, as well as the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, but had not received a reply at the time of writing.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is calling a “special military operation”. Monday marks the 152nd day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and July 25, Russia had lost about 39,700 personnel, 1,730 tanks, 3,950 armored combat vehicles, 876 artillery units, 257 multiple launch rocket systems, 116 air defense systems, 222 warplanes, 188 helicopters, 719 drones, 174 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 2,832 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 73 units of special equipment.
Ukrainian officials have vowed to recapture the southern region of Kherson by September. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his forces are advancing “step by step” into the Russian-occupied region.
The has reportedly been heavy fighting over the weekend near the city of Kherson.
Ukraine has warned that a deal to export grain via ports located on the Black Sea will be put on hold if Russia attacks key ports were airstrikes again. The move comes after a missile attack on Odesa on Saturday.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has denied that Russia is to blame for the ongoing global food crisis and instead accused Western nations of distorting the truth.
Ukraine’s health ministry has said that nearly 900 medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed since the Russian invasion of the country.
Russia has charged 92 members of the Ukrainian armed forces with crimes against humanity, the head of Russia’s investigative committee has claimed.
