The so-called Donetsk People’s Republic has said that it has repelled a large-scale Ukrainian counteroffensive.
The images purport to show the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) hitting multiple Ukrainian military vehicles which can at first be seen driving along a dirt track before they turn around and retreat after sustaining heavy fire.
A number of the vehicles appeared to be destroyed and on fire.
The images were obtained from the pro-Russian People’s Militia of the DPR on Monday, 24th October, along with a statement claiming that its forces had repelled “a large-scale counterattack by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
It also claimed: “The reconnaissance battalion of the special purpose battalion, with the support of the artillery units of the People’s Militia of the DPR, repelled the counterattack of numerous forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“Thanks to the skilful use of minefields and artillery fire, which was corrected with the help of UAVs, as well as the resilience of the scouts, the attack was repelled with heavy losses for the enemy. An armoured personnel carrier and infantry fighting vehicles were destroyed, as well as a large number of enemy manpower.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 244th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 25th October, Russia had lost about 68,420 personnel, 2,611 tanks, 5,321 armoured combat vehicles, 1,674 artillery units, 377 multiple launch rocket systems, 190 air defence systems, 271 warplanes, 248 helicopters, 1,372 drones, 350 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,054 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 149 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Defence Minister, has reportedly told some of his Western counterparts that the war is heading towards “uncontrolled escalation”, with Moscow reportedly assessing how it will react if it is defeated in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson.
Kyrylo Budanov, the Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, has said that Russia is sending new military units into Kherson in preparation for the advancing Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Budanov also said that Russia would only slow down the advance of Ukraine’s troops in the south of the country by approximately two weeks were it to blow up the nearby Kakhovka dam.
The United Nations’ (UN) nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is sending inspectors to Ukraine after the country requested that an expert mission be sent to disapprove Russia’s claims that Ukraine is planning to use a “dirty bomb”.
The UN has said that urgent steps need to be taken to deal with a backlog of over 150 ships involved in the Ukrainian grain export deal in the Black Sea. Ukraine has said that Russian inspections are creating “significant” delays and are “politically motivated”.
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has asked Israel to support its fight against Russia by providing Israeli air defence systems. Israel has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but has so far only assisted Ukraine by giving humanitarian aid and defensive equipment.
Anton Krasovsky, a pro-Putin television presenter, has been accused of inciting genocide after saying that Ukrainian children should be “drowned” and “burned” alive during an interview on the state-funded channel RT.
Krasovsky was suspended pending an investigation after his comments caused a significant backlash. The head of Russia’s investigative committee has said that it will review his comments as part of a possible criminal investigation.
