Images posted on social media appear to show Russian Su-34 Fullback jets dropping bombs from low altitude inside the Russian Federation on the border with Ukraine. Russian jets were apparently targeting anti-Kremlin partisans who entered Russian territory in the Belgorod region earlier this week, according to Insider.
The footage shows how Russian military jets flew at a very low altitude to drop their bombs, the fact that they appear to miss their target highlighting how difficult it is to use unguided munitions at such altitudes in combat conditions.
According to analysis by The War Zone journalists Thomas Newdick and Tyler Rogoway, the footage demonstrates the “difficulties of bombing with unguided munitions” at low altitudes, as well as the Russian military’s “desperate measures” to counter a border incursion by Ukrainian-backed Russian militias which caused panic in the Belgorod region and seemed to take the few troops stationed here on the Ukrainian border completely by surprise.
According to independent geolocators, the footage shows that Su-34 jets carried out this attack on the Graivoron border crossing, located approximately 9.6 kilometers inside Russia.
According to Insider information, the Russian plane appeared to be dropping gravity bombs, known as FAB-500ShN, which miss their target.
Former Russian pilot: “They flew without a flight plan, they didn’t know what the target was”
A former Russian pilot commented on his Telegram channel about the flawed manner in which the pilots of the two Su-34 jets carried out the mission.
“They dropped the bombs from too low an altitude, they flew without a flight plan, they didn’t know what the target was,” said the former pilot.
The fourth-generation Sukhoi Su-34 bomber was unveiled in 2017. The Su-34, dubbed “Fullback” by NATO, is rated as one of Russia’s most capable aircraft, capable of hitting targets on the ground and in the air.
Earlier this week, the Free Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps, made up of Russian citizens, claimed to have seized control of Russian territory in a cross-border raid. Ukrainian-backed Russian militias have announced the “liberation” of villages inside Russia.
The Kremlin called the incursion “sabotage,” according to state media.
The Legion said it had sent units to Graivoron, and footage from the checkpoint appeared to show armored vehicles taking over the post, The Guardian reported on Tuesday.
Recently, a Russian Su-34 accidentally dropped a bomb right in the center of the Russian city of Belgorod.
Editor : R.K.
