The Kyiv Independent reported on January 7, citing Russian media, that Russian authorities arrested a 16-year-old boy in the Republic of Dagestan (part of Russia) on charges of setting fire to a Su-34 aircraft at the Shagol air base in Chelyabinsk.
The images are from a video released by Ukrainian intelligence and allegedly show the burning Su-34.
The plane was set on fire on the evening of January 4 while parked at the Shagol air base on the outskirts of Chelyabinsk, about 2,000 km east of the Ukrainian border.
TASS, citing a statement from the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), reported that the Russian national was arrested in connection with acts of sabotage at a Russian Ministry of Defense facility in Chelyabinsk in January "on the orders of Ukrainian special forces."
This individual has been identified as being involved in arson attacks on communications facilities and railway infrastructure in Dagestan between November and December 2023.
Did Ukrainian intelligence destroy a Su-34 on Russian soil?
Previously, the Ukrainian newspaper Ukrainska Pravda reported that the Ukrainian Military Intelligence Agency (HUR) was behind the burning of the Su-34 aircraft on January 4th. HUR subsequently released video showing the burning plane but did not claim responsibility. The agency stated that the Su-34, estimated to be worth at least $50 million, was completely destroyed by fire, but the extent of the damage was not clearly visible in the released video. Russian media claimed the fire was quickly extinguished and caused no significant damage, but also offered no evidence.
The suspect was arrested the following day and the court ordered his detention pending trial.
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