BLOWN TO BITS
Putin humiliated as fighter jet worth $35million ‘destroyed in secret Ukrainian mission’ 1,400 miles inside Russia
Russia have argued over the condition of the warplane saying 'the attempt failed completely' and the jet is fine
VLADIMIR Putin has been left humiliated after a Russian fighter jet worth $35million was destroyed by Ukraine in a top secret mission.
Ukraine claimed they set the Russian Su-34 warplane on fire 1,400miles inside enemy territory, leaving it a burning wreck in an airfield.
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Footage show the savvy tactical bomber at Shagol airfield in Chelyabinsk looking worse for wear as it sits burning out in the snow.
Reports say the plane was attacked in the Russian city of Chelyabinsk and that the operation was carried out by pro-Kyiv saboteurs.
The clever culprits appeared to have sneaked behind enemy lines and onto the airfield to set the jet on fire as videos show it up in flames late at night.
A source in the Ukrainian HUR military intelligence said: “We can confirm that the enemy aircraft has been completely burnt out."
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Ukraine claims to have set alight the Russian warplane 1,000miles east of the war-torn front line in the Donetsk region.
The combat aircraft involved belonged to the aviation regiment of the Russian 21st mixed air division, according to Ukrainian reports.
The attack came as Lt-Gen Kyrylo Budanov - a high-profile leader responsible for multiple operations on Russian soil - marked 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.
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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 are also believed to attack again in a similar way after finding success in aerial 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 aircraft were shot out of the sky near the Dnipro River, where Kyiv forces secured a bridgehead on the eastern bank.
Its been reported that more than 20 of the bombers have been shot down by Ukraine since the war broke out.
According to the Ukrainian military, Putin's forces have lost tens of thousands of tanks, armoured vehicles, rocket systems, aircraft, ships, submarines, drones, and troops.
Ukraine's General Staff have also reported thousands of deaths in the last few weeks including the loss of 1,250 men on a single Sunday in late December.
Figures from that weekend of full-on bombardments saw 3,270 troops eliminated.
Putin is believed to have lost at least 340,000 troops since the beginning of the fighting.
Yet, the tyrant leader keeps throwing his troops into meat-grinder assaults in a desperate attempt to secure a winter victory.
The rough winter has also affected Russian troops, as they receive inadequate clothing, a lack of medical aid, and are now being mowed down by "rat-bite fever".
Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate that the disease - a type of streptococcal infection - can be transmitted by direct contact with rodents, or by inhaling their urine, faeces or mucus.
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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 is similar to the flu. However, it quickly intensifies and can do serious damage to major organs like kidneys.
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