The so-called Donetsk People’s Republic has said that its anti-aircraft missile systems are protecting its troops from Ukrainian missiles.
The footage appears to show a Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) anti-aircraft missile system in action, firing a missile to intercept an incoming target.
The images were obtained from the People’s Militia of the DPR on Friday, 11th November, along with a statement claiming: “Ukrainian Nazis fire hundreds of rockets daily into the territory of the DPR, but the air defence forces successfully cope with them.
“The anti-aircraft missile division of the People’s Militia of the DPR stands guard over the peaceful sky around the clock, using various means, including the Osa air defence system. The commander of the anti-aircraft missile system told the military commissars of the Press Service of the NM DPR about how the machine works from the inside.”
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 261st day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 11th November, Russia had lost about 79,400 personnel, 2,814 tanks, 5,696 armoured combat vehicles, 1,817 artillery units, 393 multiple launch rocket systems, 205 air defence systems, 278 warplanes, 261 helicopters, 1,505 drones, 399 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,259 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 159 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukrainian forces are reportedly closing in on the southern city of Kherson after Russia announced that it was retreating across the Dnieper River.
Ukraine has said that it thinks it will take at least a week for the Russian troops to leave the city and has reportedly liberated the strategically significant town of Snihurivka in Mykolaiv Oblast, which lies near the border with Kherson Oblast, some 20 miles north of the city of Kherson.
The Russian Ministry of Defence has said that its retreat from the region is currently underway, saying: “The Russian troop units are manoeuvring to a prepared position on the left bank of the Dnieper River in strict accordance with the approved plan.”
The Ukrainian Defence Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, has said that there are still approximately 40,000 Russian troops in the Kherson region.
Reznikov said: “It’s not that easy to withdraw these troops from Kherson in one day or two days. As a minimum, one week.”
Ukraine has said that it does not want to rush into the city as it could be a trap by the Kremlin.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, said Ukraine could not currently confirm if Russia was indeed retreating from the city, but Ukraine’s military forces have advanced over 22 miles and retaken 41 villages and towns in the region since the beginning of October, including 12 settlements on Wednesday.
US officials announced on Thursday that they would be sending an additional USD 400 million in military aid to Ukraine.
National Security advisor Jake Sullivan said: “This increased air defence will be critical for Ukraine as Russia continues to use cruise missiles and Iranian-made drones to attack critical civilian infrastructure.”
