The Donetsk People’s Republic has said that its scouts have destroyed an American M113 armoured personnel carrier by firing anti-tank guided missiles at it.
The images purport to show the pro-Russian soldiers firing the missiles at the American-made armoured personnel carrier, which then appears to explode.
The images were obtained from the People’s Militia of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) on Monday, 30th January, along with a statement claiming: “Scouts of the 58th Separate Special Purpose Battalion (previously the 3rd Separate Special Purpose Battalion of the People’s Militia of the DPR) during reconnaissance at night discovered the movement of a group of Ukrainian militants. The identified targets were immediately destroyed with the help of ATGMs.”
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 341st day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 30th January 2023, Russia had lost about 126,650 personnel, 3,201 tanks, 6,369 armoured combat vehicles, 2,196 artillery units, 453 multiple launch rocket systems, 221 air defence systems, 293 warplanes, 284 helicopters, 1,947 drones, 796 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,041 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 199 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukrainian officials have said that Russian missiles targeted a school, hospital, bus station, post office and residential buildings in the city of Kherson on Sunday, leaving three people dead and five injured.
A missile also hit Kharkiv on Sunday, with an apartment building hit, killing one person.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces and Russia’s Wagner mercenary organisation, which the United States has designated as a transnational criminal organisation, have both claimed to control the Blahodatne area in Donetsk.
Ukraine said on Sunday that it had repelled an attack in the area, with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine saying: “Units of Ukraine’s Defence Forces repelled the attacks of the occupiers in the areas of … Blahodatne … in the Donetsk region.”
But the Wagner organisation claimed it had taken control of the village.
Mykhailo Podolyak, a top aide to Ukraine’s President, has said that Ukraine and its Western allies are “fast-tracking” talks on equipping Kyiv with long-range missiles and military aircraft.
US officials are reportedly asking the Pentagon to supply F-16 jets to Ukraine so it can defend itself from Russian drones and missiles.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said on Sunday that Germany will not send fighter jets.
Scholz said: “I can only advise against entering into a constant bidding war when it comes to weapons systems.”
The German Chancellor added: “If, as soon as a decision [on tanks] has been made, the next debate starts in Germany, that doesn’t come across as serious and undermines citizens’ confidence in government decisions.”
