Apparently, a group of pro-Ukrainian operatives managed to sneak into the Shagol aerodrome and set fire to a Russian Air Force Su-34 tactical strike aircraft, and had time to film it.
The General Directorate of Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine published a video on its social networks where it can be seen how a group of individuals approach what appears to be a Su-34 fighter-bomber, and by means of a fuse and surely some combustible material, they would have managed to produce a fire in the air intake of the right engine of the aircraft.
Perhaps the most striking aspect of the video is that the perpetrators take their time to film the start of the fire, and then calmly walk away. Although the incident took place on the outskirts of the city of Chelyabinsk, more than 1,700 km from the front lines, if the video is confirmed, it would indicate that the security of airfields and military bases in Russia’s deep rearguard leaves much to be desired.
See also: Su-34 fighter-bomber uses Kinzhal hypersonic missile for the first time against targets in Ukraine
The aircraft belonged to the aviation regiment of the 21st Joint Aviation Division of the Russian Air Force.
The loss of one of the most widely used (and recently increased in production) fighter jets in the war in Ukraine, due to gross security negligence, is more embarrassing than tactically significant for Russia… as long as this kind of rearguard action does not flare up.
