Vladimir Putin has been left humiliated after Russian helicopter pilots accidentally revealed the location of “decoy” fighter jets.

       The president's military is hoping to protect key assets, such as tanks, ships and planes, by hiding them.

       One method of doing this is to paint “silhouettes” of the assets, aircraft on airfields and ships in ports, to encourage oppositiong to attack them rather than the actual vessels.

       Su-30 jets had been painted onto the tarmac at airbases but helicopters landing on top of them have shown they are fake.

       In its latest intelligence update, the UK Ministry of Defence said: “It is likely that as a result of continued successful Ukrainian strikes on military locations, Russia has been forced to implement a number of decoy and deception techniques in an attempt to obfuscate Ukrainian targeting efforts."

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       It continued: “At Kirovskoe Airfield on occupied Crimea there are decoy Russian fighter aircraft painted on the concrete. Such paintings have also been observed across at least 12 more Russian air bases, demonstrating the extent of Russian concern of future Ukrainian strikes and their ability to repel them.

       “However, Russian helicopters still regularly land on the painted decoy fighter silhouettes, completely undermining the deception attempt.

       “This also reveals the true order of battle or aircraft strength at these airbases, which Russia is likely trying to mask from Ukraine’s intelligence picture.”

       Ukraine is attacking deep within Russia, with recent attacks 800 miles from the frontline. Kyiv’s forces have also shot down a number of Russian fighter jets and spycraft in recent months.

       However, Putin’s forces have reportedly destroyed a couple of US-built Patriot air defence systems, are targeting Ukraine’s power sector, and have seized territory in the eastern Donetsk province.

       The MoD update was put out as part of the ongoing information war between Ukraine, its allies and Russia. Each side is trying to shape the course of the war through potentially incomplete information.