Footage Purportedly Shows Russian Pilot Shooting Down Ukrainian Aircraft

This footage purports to show a Russian fighter pilot taking off, flying over a frosty Ukrainian landscape, firing a missile, then returning back to base at night.

Officials in Russia said the footage showed the Russian pilot shooting down a Ukrainian military aircraft.

The Russian Ministry of Defence said in a statement obtained by Newsflash on 18th December: "During combat sorties, the crews of Su-35S multi-role fighters conduct patrols of specified areas, as well as cover the actions of Russian bombers, attack aircraft and helicopters, which inflict air strikes on military facilities and equipment of the armed forces of Ukraine. Flights of Russian Aerospace Forces fighters are carried out with suspended missiles of various classes.

"During one of these sorties, an aircraft of the armed forces of Ukraine was detected and destroyed in a timely manner."

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 299th day of the invasion.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 19th December, Russia had lost about 98,800 personnel, 2,988 tanks, 5,969 armoured combat vehicles, 1,953 artillery units, 410 multiple launch rocket systems, 212 air defence systems, 281 warplanes, 264 helicopters, 1,657 drones, 653 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,592 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 175 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

Kyiv's critical infrastructure was targeted by a wave of Russian military drone attacks early on 19th December.

Some 20 Iran-made drones were deployed to and around Ukraine's capital, with air defence systems destroying about three-quarters of them.

Officials in Kyiv have confirmed that a critical infrastructure point was hit, without giving further details.

UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to announce a new military aid package for Ukraine worth GBP 250 million.

It will include "hundreds of thousands of rounds of artillery ammunition" for use against invading Russian forces.

And officials in Ukraine have dismissed calls for a negotiated peace from former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger as "appeasing the aggressor".