Two Russian MiG-31K fighter jets, capable of launching hypersonic Kinjal missiles, are reported to have returned to Russia after spending the last few days at Machulishchi Airfield in Belarus.
Likely Returned to Russia
The independent Belarusian military monitoring group, Hajun Project, announced that these jets likely departed Belarus and flew back to Russia, according to the Kyiv Independent on Sunday, October 13, 2024.
“Based on the available information, we know that after takeoff, the MiG-31K jets did not return to the Machulishchi airfield.
The fighter planes took a course to the south, flew past Baranovichi, and then turned east — towards the Russian Federation,” Hajun Project posted on Telegram.
The group concluded that the jets likely left Belarusian territory and returned to Russia, according to Ziare.
Could be Preparing Attack
The MiG-31K aircraft had landed in Belarus on October 9 and 10, 2024. This was their first appearance in the region since April 2023, sparking concerns among Ukrainian officials and military experts.
Some speculated that Russia moved these jets to Belarus to avoid potential Ukrainian attacks. Machulishchi Airfield is located near Minsk, the capital of Belarus, a close ally of Russia.
Hajun Project suggested that the MiG-31K jets might have been undergoing system checks or conducting tests with the Belarusian Air Force.
Another possibility, raised by Ukrainian military expert Oleksii Hetman, is that Russia could be preparing for a large-scale assault on Ukraine, similar to the attacks in August 2023, which targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The MiG-31K fighter jets can reach speeds of up to 3,000 kilometers per hour (1,864 miles per hour) and are capable of launching Kinjal hypersonic missiles with a range of 2,000 kilometers (1,242 miles), posing a serious threat to Ukraine’s defenses.
