Kremlin propaganda chiefs have issued a baffling video showing a Russian fighter jet being armed to the teeth before taking off on a sortie – but returning with all its missiles seemingly intact.
The glossy movie-quality production shows the fully loaded Sukhoi Su-35S soaring into the clouds on a “combat sortie”.
But the footage apparently shows the same warplane returning to base without having fired the clearly visible munitions.
Zenger news obtained the film from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the Russian Federation yesterday (Tuesday, May 10).
The Russian MoD titled it (in English): “Footage of combat sorties of multifunctional super-maneuverable Su-35S fighters for the destruction of military facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine”.
The Sukhoi Su-35S is designed by the Sukhoi Design Bureau and built by the Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Plant.
Its primary users are the Russian Air Force, the Chinese Air Force, and the Egyptian Air Force. It has been produced since 2007.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is now calling a “special military operation” to “protect Donbass”. The invasion is now on its 77th day.
In its latest briefing (yesterday), the Russian MoD said (in English): “The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue the special military operation in Ukraine.
“During the day, operational-tactical and army aviation have hit 74 assets, including 2 command posts, 20 areas of AFU manpower and military equipment concentration, as well as 2 missile and artillery weapon depots.
“Missile troops and artillery units have hit 223 areas of manpower and military equipment concentration and destroyed 3 command posts and 2 ammunition depots.
“The attacks have resulted in the elimination of more than 100 nationalists and up to 19 armored and motor vehicles.
“Russian air defense means have shot down 1 Ukrainian Su-25 aircraft near Shirokoe, Dnepropetrovsk Region. In addition, 1 Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force has been shot down near Novodmitrovka, Kherson Region.
“In addition, 4 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles have been shot down near Lysychansk, Kryvyi Rih, and Kulinovka, Kharkiv Region.
“In total, 164 Ukrainian aircraft and 125 helicopters, 798 unmanned aerial vehicles, 302 anti-aircraft missile systems, 2,983 tanks, and other armored combat vehicles, 351 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,440 field artillery, and mortars, as well as 2,796 units of special military vehicles were destroyed during the operation.
“I would like to point out that another Ukrainian Bayraktar-TB2 unmanned aerial vehicle has been shot down by Russian air defense means this afternoon near Snake Island.
“The Kyiv regime has thus lost 30 military UAVs alone in this area over the past three days.
“9 of these, I remind you, are Bayraktar-TB2 strike UAVs.
“The UAVs were all used in the failed ‘PR campaign’ by the Kyiv regime to seize Snake Island on the eve of May 9, the Great Patriotic War Victory Day.
“In addition, 3 more bodies of Ukrainian saboteurs nailed from the sea were found by Russian servicemen on the shore today.
“Now 27 bodies of Ukrainian special forces and nationalist fighters remain at Snake Island as a result of Kyiv’s failed operation.
“In total, the Kyiv regime have lost 3 Su-24 bombers and 1 Su-27 fighter jet near Snake Island during militarily pointless attempt to seize the island.
“10 Ukrainian Air Force helicopters have been destroyed. Among them, 3 Mi-8 helicopters with paratroopers onboard and 1 Mi-24 support helicopter have been shot down in the air. In addition, 6 more Mi-8 and Mi-24 helicopters involved in the operation have been destroyed on the ground near Artsyz, Odessa Region.
“Also 3 Ukrainian Centaur armored amphibious assault boats with marines on board have been destroyed.
“Thus, this adventure ended in disaster for Ukraine. The Kyiv regime’s mindless PR campaign to seize Snake Island on the eve of Victory Day resulted in the senseless deaths of more than five dozen Ukrainian fighters and members of elite AFU units, the loss of 4 aircraft, 10 helicopters, 3 boats, and 30 unmanned aerial vehicles.”
