The claims, initially shared by pro-Russian military bloggers, quickly gained traction, fueling intense debate among both Russian and Ukrainian social media users.
January 31, 2020
The rumors began when Fighterbomber, a well-known pro-Russian Telegram channel with ties to the Russian air force, posted a cryptic message, seemingly paying tribute to a lost Su-34 fighter jet.
January 31, 2020
The post featured an image of the supersonic medium-range fighter bomber and included the solemn caption, “The earth is the sky, brothers,” hinting at a tragic incident involving one of Russia’s mainstay aircraft in its war efforts.
January 31, 2020
Adding to the speculation, another pro-Moscow Telegram channel, VDV for Honesty and Justice, amplified the story by providing further details. “Urgent!!! Our Su-34 has been shot down. The crew was killed,” the post read.
January 31, 2020
VDV for Honesty and Justice further warned of potential future losses, stating, “Soon there will be more such losses. NATO has sent F-16s out to hunt. As a result, our infantry losses will increase.”
January 31, 2020
This message sparked further debate about the involvement of NATO-supplied jets in the ongoing conflict. Pro-Ukrainian social media accounts quickly latched onto the claims, with several users celebrating the potential downing of the Russian jet.