This footage reportedly shows Russian soldiers using drones to pinpoint Ukrainian positions and relay the information to their artillery units.
The footage apparently shows Russian soldiers piloting drones, including using videogame controllers, before what appear to be Russian Grad 21 multiple launch missile vehicles fire salvos of rockets at unseen Ukrainian positions.
The images were obtained from the People’s Militia of the pro-Russian, so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) on Monday, 31st October, along with a statement claiming: “Artillerymen of the Russian Armed Forces strike at the enemy.
“With the help of unmanned aerial vehicles, the positions of Ukrainian militants are constantly monitored, and in case of detection of an accumulation of enemy manpower and equipment, the data is transmitted to the artillerymen, who strike at given coordinates.”
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 250th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 31st October, Russia had lost about 71,820 personnel, 2,686 tanks, 5,485 armoured combat vehicles, 1,728 artillery units, 383 multiple launch rocket systems, 197 air defence systems, 275 warplanes, 253 helicopters, 1,413 drones, 352 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,128 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.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has pulled out of the UN-brokered grain deal after a swarm of drones attacked Russia’s Black Sea flagship vessel, the Admiral Makarov, in the Crimean port of Sevastopol over the weekend.
Russia claimed that it was unable to “guarantee the safety of civilian ships” travelling under the deal after the attack on its Black Sea fleet.
The United States and the United Nations have both called on Moscow to reverse its decision, with US President Joe Biden calling the move “purely outrageous”.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that Russia was weaponising food, while the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres, said that he was “deeply concerned” by the move.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that his forces have pushed back a “fierce offensive” by Russian forces in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.
Zelensky said: “Today they stopped the fierce offensive actions of the enemy.” The Ukrainian president added: “The Russian attack was repelled.”
The United Nations, Turkey and Ukraine have said that they will push on to set up a new Black Sea grain deal without Russia that will provide for a transit plan for 16 ships.
Ukraine said on Sunday that 218 ships were now “effectively blocked” in its ports.
