This is the moment Russian fighter jets take to the sky and reportedly carry out strikes on key Ukrainian strongholds and weapons depots.

The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said the airstrikes, carried out by single planes and in pairs, successfully destroyed Ukrainian fortified structures and depots for weapons and ammo, including NATO-supplied systems.

In a statement obtained by Newsflash, the Russian MoD said: “In the course of performing a combat mission, the crews of the Russian Aerospace Forces took part in practical airstrikes against hidden long-term fortified structures used by nationalist formations and depots with weapons and ammunition, including foreign-made ones.”

The Russian MoD added: “Airstrikes were carried out by single planes and in pairs.

“The results of the defeat of ground targets were recorded by the means of objective control of the aircraft as well as unmanned aerial vehicles.”

In the footage, a Russian fighter jet is seen taxiing on the runway before taking off into the sky.

The next scene shows two combat planes in the sky, apparently heading to the Ukrainian targets, before dropping several bombs in the same area.

At least three huge fireballs fill the air before two Russian jets fly back to base and land on the runway, ready for the next mission.

Russia invaded their neighbours Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin called a “special military operation”.

Today marks the 56th day of the invasion. From 24th February to 20th April, the total combat losses of Russian troops stand at 20,900 personnel, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian military also claims that Russia has lost 815 battle tanks, 2,087 combat armoured vehicles, 391 artillery systems, 136 MLR systems, 67 anti-aircraft systems, 171 warplanes, 150 helicopters, 1,504 vehicles, 8 vessels, 76 fuel tank trucks, 165 operational-tactical level UAVs, 27 units of special equipment, and four mobile SRBM systems.

The United States has provided a large number of Javelin anti-tank missile systems to Ukraine. Russia has also been hit hard by international sanctions following its invasion of Ukraine, with its tank production chain said to be plagued by supply shortages.