DPR Says Its Troops Have Taken A Ukrainian Position And Captured Soldiers And Ammo

The People’s Militia of the Donetsk People’s Republic has said that its troops have taken a Ukrainian position and captured soldiers and weaponry.

The footage reportedly shows Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) soldiers escorting Ukrainian soldiers away after taking them prisoner. The images then reportedly show the captured Ukrainian position and weaponry.

The images were obtained from the People’s Militia of the DPR on Tuesday, 1st November, along with a statement claiming: “Fighters of the 100th Brigade stormed a stronghold of the Armed Forces [of Ukraine] and captured a large number of prisoners.

DPR soldier inspects dugout of Ukrainian positions in Nevelske, Donetsk region, Ukraine in undated photo. Soldiers of the 100th brigade of the People’s Militia of the DPR stormed the stronghold of Ukrainian army and captured military ammunition and Ukrainian soldiers. (@nm_dnr/Newsflash)

“In the course of offensive actions in the area of Nevelskoe, soldiers of the 100th Guards Brigade of the DPR People’s Militia stormed the positions of Ukrainian militants. In the course of the fighting, a large amount of weapons, including those of foreign production, were captured, and prisoners were captured.”

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 251st day of the war.

DPR soldiers aim their guns in Ukrainian soldiers in Nevelske, Donetsk region, Ukraine in undated photo. Soldiers of the 100th brigade of the People’s Militia of the DPR stormed the stronghold of Ukrainian army and captured military ammunition and Ukrainian soldiers. (@nm_dnr/Newsflash)

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 1st November, Russia had lost about 72,470 personnel, 2,698 tanks, 5,501 armoured combat vehicles, 1,730 artillery units, 383 multiple launch rocket systems, 197 air defence systems, 276 warplanes, 257 helicopters, 1,415 drones, 397 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,143 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 154 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

Picture shows Ukrainian military ammunition captured by DPR soldiers in Nevelske, Donetsk region, Ukraine in undated photo. Soldiers of the 100th brigade of the People’s Militia of the DPR stormed the stronghold of Ukrainian army and captured military ammunition and Ukrainian soldiers. (@nm_dnr/Newsflash)

The Ukrainian capital Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities have been hit by a massive wave of Russian missile strikes. Hydroelectric power plants have also been hit, as have other critical energy and water infrastructure across Ukraine.

Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko has said that 40 per cent of the city’s residents do not have running water and 270,000 homes were without electricity as of Monday evening.

The Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom James Cleverly has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “exacting vengeance” for his military failures with the missile strikes and by withdrawing from the Black Sea grain export deal.

Putin has said that the missile strikes have been aimed at hitting energy and military infrastructure but Ukraine has denied that its military facilities are being targeted.

Putin has also said that the strikes and the decision to pull out of the Black Sea grain deal were in response to a drone attack on Moscow’s fleet in Crimea that he has blamed on Ukraine.

Picture shows dugout of Ukrainian positions in Nevelske, Donetsk region, Ukraine in undated photo. Soldiers of the 100th brigade of the People’s Militia of the DPR stormed the stronghold of Ukrainian army and captured military ammunition and Ukrainian soldiers. (@nm_dnr/Newsflash)

Putin said on Monday that Ukrainian drones had used the same marine corridors that the grain ships transit through under the UN-brokered deal.

The Russian Ministry of Defence said in a statement that it wanted Ukraine to provide “commitments” to avoid using the Black Sea grain corridor for military purposes.

The United Nations has disputed Moscow’s claim that a civilian cargo ship that was carrying grain out of Ukraine might have been used as part of the drone strike against the Russian fleet.

France is now reportedly working on a plan to export Ukrainian food products by land routes instead of the Black Sea.

Russia is reportedly recruiting Afghan special forces soldiers to fight in Ukraine, with three former Afghan generals reportedly saying that Moscow wanted to entice thousands of elite Afghan commandos in a bid to create a “foreign legion”.

The Russian Ministry of Defence said on Monday that Moscow had now completed the partial mobilisation announced by Putin in September.