LT Selfridge,
The MiG-31 story is bogus.
Quote:
Russia has not sent Mikoyan MiG-31 supersonic interceptors to Syria and does not intend to operate the aircraft in the war-torn country, CEO of Russian Aircraft Corporation MiG Sergei Korotkov stated refuting recent rumors.
No MiG-31s for Damascus: Russia Denies Sending Interceptors to Syria
I'm not really sure that it is down to the CEO of MiG to decide where the Russian Air Force gets to deploy its aircraft (or not), and as for believing the word of a government that still swears blind it does not have forces deployed in Ukraine, well....