Russian Telegram channels were celebrating footage of a Lancet loitering munition strike against a supposed Ukrainian Su-25 "Frogfoot" strike jet... which was quickly identified as a decoy intended to draw Russian fire and waste enemy munitions.

The life-size model looks convincing in shape, size, and it's even covered in a moto paint job. However, aviation analysts were able to dispel the target as a fake as the turbines are cylinders attached underneath the wings, rather than molded into the wings as a genuine Su-25 has.

The goal posts of success were quickly pushed back by the pro Russian accounts as they acknowledged the target was a decoy, but insisted the footage proves the Russians have the ability to strike anywhere as the incident occurred deep behind Ukrainian lines.

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Will Killmore

Will Killmore is a US Army combat infantry veteran and Purple Heart recipient. He has deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan with the 172nd Stryker Brigade and 173rd Airborne Brigade. Following his time in service, he successfully pursued a certificate of journalism and has been a blogger for Funker530 since 2014. Follow Will’s bad takes on Twitter