These images show Ukrainian forces made up of Azov veterans destroying a Russian ammunition cache on the outskirts of Bakhmut.
The footage shows the area being hit by Ukrainian ordnance, with the Russian ammunition seen burning as a result.
The images were obtained from the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Wednesday, 22nd March, along with a statement saying: “Two aimed hits and the ammunition of the Russian army burns like a match. Work of the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade on the outskirts of Bakhmut.”
The 3rd Separate Assault Brigade was formed in November 2022 with members of the Azov Special Operations Forces (SSO) and veterans from the Azov Regiment.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 393rd day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 23rd March 2023, Russia had lost about 168,150 personnel, 3,570 tanks, 6,898 armoured combat vehicles, 2,608 artillery units, 511 multiple launch rocket systems, 273 air defence systems, 305 warplanes, 290 helicopters, 2,203 drones, 909 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,452 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 273 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
At least eight people were killed last night (Wednesday Thursday) after a Russian drone attack hit Rzhyshchiv, near the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, according to regional police chief Andrii Nebytov.
The strike reportedly hit a school and a dormitory building, with one of the people declared dead being “an ambulance driver who came to the call”.
Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, has said that China is watching “very carefully” to see how the West handles Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
He said that if Russia is allowed to attack Ukraine with impunity, this would create a “Pandora’s box” situation and lead to “a world of conflict”.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has cautioned that the West needs to prepare to supply weaponry to Ukraine for the long haul.
Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, has said that Russia will not leave the UK’s plan to supply Ukraine with depleted uranium tank shells “unanswered”.
Lavrov said: “This decision will not remain without serious consequences both for Russian-British bilateral relations and at the international level.”
But James Cleverly, the UK Foreign Secretary, has said that providing Ukraine with depleted uranium shells does not constitute a “nuclear escalation”. He said: “They are not nuclear munitions. They are purely conventional munitions.”
Cleverly’s statement comes a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin accused the West of “beginning to use weapons with a nuclear component”.
Sweden’s parliament has formally approved a bill to allow it to join NATO.
