The so-called Donetsk People’s Republic has said that the Russian Air Force has destroyed Ukrainian recon aircraft and ammo depots near Avdiivka.
The footage purports to show the Ukrainian positions being hit by Russian ordnance.
The images appear to show a number of large explosions in an urban area.
The images were obtained from the People’s Militia of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) on Tuesday, 7th March, along with a statement claiming: “Russian Aerospace Forces destroyed ammunition depots and airborne reconnaissance aircraft of the 110th Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“The location of the reconnaissance unit of the 110th brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and ammunition depots were destroyed.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 377th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 7th March 2023, Russia had lost about 154,830 personnel, 3,432 tanks, 6,714 armoured combat vehicles, 2,456 artillery units, 488 multiple launch rocket systems, 253 air defence systems, 303 warplanes, 289 helicopters, 2,095 drones, 873 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,323 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 236 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his country is committed to holding the contested city of Bakhmut despite being partially encircled by the Russians, saying that “no part of Ukraine” can “be abandoned”.
Both Ukraine and Russia are apparently struggling with an ammunition shortage, with Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the notorious Russian mercenary organisation Wagner, saying that his representative had been denied access to the headquarters of Russia’s invasion force after he repeatedly complained about an ammunition shortage.
Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Defence Minister, has visited Mariupol to inspect “Russian reconstruction efforts of infrastructure”.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the exiled Belarusian opposition leader, has been sentenced to 15 years in jail after being convicted in absentia for “conspiracy to seize power” and treason.
Tsikhanouskaya said that the verdict was punishment for trying to promote democracy.
The UK Ministry of Defence has said that there is a “realistic possibility” that Russia is going to re-equip its tank force with T-62s, first used in 1954, in a bid to make up for a shortfall in armour.
The tanks are reportedly destined for units that had been waiting for next-generation T-14 Armata main battle tanks.
