VLADIMIR Putin has been left humiliated after a Russian fighter jet worth $35million was destroyed by Ukraine in a top secret mission.
Ukraine has claimed to have set the Russian Su-34 fighter jet ablaze 2,400 miles from enemy territory, leaving it as burning debris at an airfield.
Images of the smart tactical bomber at the Shagol airfield in Chelyabinsk, in poor condition as it burns in the snow.
The plane reportedly struck in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk and the operation was carried out by pro-Kiev saboteurs.
The clever culprits appear to have snuck into enemy lines and the airfield to set the plane on fire, while videos show it on fire at night.
A Ukrainian military intelligence source, HUR, said: “We can verify that the enemy plane was completely burned. »
Ukraine claims to have set fire to the Russian fighter jet 1,600 miles east of the war-torn front line in the Donetsk region.
The fighter jets belonged to the aviation regiment of Russia’s 21st Mixed Air Division, according to Ukrainian reports.
The attack took place as Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, a high-level leader guilty of several operations on Russian soil, was celebrating his 38th birthday.
Despite the clear message of destruction from Ukraine, the video and photos don’t show the bomber being completely ruined as the true extent of the damage remains a mystery.
Russian site Flightbomber rubbished the claims, saying: “The Ukrainians tried in Chelyabinsk to hit a plane…but the attempt failed completely. Completely!”
As top Ukrainian journalist Yuri Butusov said: “The final result of the operation was not captured on video.
“We hope to soon assess the extent of the destruction from satellite images.”
Ukraine is also believed to attack from behind after having achieved successes in air battles in the past.
They’ve previously scored a major war victory after downing three Russians Su-34 bombers in a single day.
The Russian jets were shot down near the Dnipro River, where Kyiv’s forces secured a bridgehead on the east bank.
More than 20 bombers have been reported to have been shot down in Ukraine since the start of the war.
According to the Ukrainian military, Putin’s forces have tens of thousands of tanks, armored vehicles, rocket systems, planes, ships, submarines, drones and troops.
Ukraine’s General Staff has also reported thousands of deaths in recent weeks, adding to the loss of 1,250 men on a single Sunday in late December.
According to figures from this weekend of heavy shelling, 3,270 were eliminated.
Putin is believed to have lost at least 340,000 people since the fighting began.
However, the tyrant leader continues to throw his troops into flesh-grindering attacks in a desperate attempt to secure a winter victory.
The harsh winter has also taken a toll on Russian troops, who are sufficiently clothed, lack medical assistance and are now riddled with “rat bite fever”.
Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate said that the disease – a type of streptococcal infection – can be transmitted by direct contact with rodents, or by inhaling their urine, faeces or mucus.
They listed several symptoms, stating that alongside bleeding eyes, vomiting and severe back pain, sufferers also experience headaches, rashes, a decrease in blood pressure and fevers of 40 degrees.
In its early stages, the disease resembles the flu. However, it increases temporarily and can cause serious damage to primary organs such as the kidneys.
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