The so-called Donetsk People’s Republic has said that its forces have taken Ukrainian positions behind the runway at the Donetsk airport.
The images appear to show Russian and pro-Russian soldiers taking part in combat operations in Ukraine, before what appear to be Ukrainian positions near an airport runway are seen.
The area then appears to be hit by artillery, with Russian and pro-Russian soldiers taking the positions and taking out Ukrainian soldiers in trench warfare.
The images were obtained from the People’s militia of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) on Monday, 7th November, along with a statement claiming: “The territory of the Donetsk airport has been completely cleared of invaders.
“The People’s Militia of the DPR as part of the Sparta battalion, the 3rd separate special-purpose battalion with the support of a separate tank battalion, the 1539th battalion named after the Archangel Michael, and the 238th artillery brigade of the of the Russian Federation ed Forces managed to completely liberate the territory of the Donetsk airport, which became possible due to the victory over the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the battles for ‘Anthills’ – well-fortified strongholds behind the runway of the Donetsk airport.”
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 258th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 8th November, Russia had lost about 77,170 personnel, 2,786 tanks, 5,654 armoured combat vehicles, 1,791 artillery units, 391 multiple launch rocket systems, 203 air defence systems, 278 warplanes, 260 helicopters, 1,476 drones, 399 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,216 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.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that Ukraine’s military forces are progressively pushing back Russian troops in the east and the south of the country.
Zelensky said “we are gradually moving forward” and added that Russians on the eastern front in the Donetsk region “die by the hundreds every day”.
The Ukrainian energy operator has told citizens to prepare for more blackouts as it tries to reduce strain on parts of the energy infrastructure that have been damaged by Russian missile and drone attacks.
Ukraine’s Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has said that the country has received more air defence systems from its Western allies, saying: “These weapons will significantly strengthen the Ukrainian army and will make our skies safer.”
Ukraine has accused Russian soldiers of occupying and looting empty homes in the city of Kherson in the south of the country in preparation for street fighting as Ukraine tries to retake the city from Moscow’s forces.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that 50,000 Russian soldiers who were called up as part of his mobilisation push are now fighting within combat units in Ukraine.
Putin added that a total of 80,000 troops from his mobilisation initiative are now “in the zone of the special military operation”, which is what the Kremlin calls the war in Ukraine, with the remainder of the nearly 320,000 recently mobilised forces currently training in Russia.
There is reportedly growing anger in Russia about what is being perceived as Putin’s willingness to throw hundreds of poorly trained conscripts on the frontlines.
Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukraine’s president, has said that his country had never refused to negotiate with Moscow and was prepared to negotiate with its future leader, but not with Putin.
Podolyak said: “Ukraine has never refused to negotiate. Our negotiating position is known and open.”
He added: “Is Putin ready? Obviously not. Therefore, we are constructive in our assessment: we will talk with the next leader.”
