These images show a huge explosion as Ukrainian forces targeted Russian positions on the battlefield.
The images were obtained from the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces on Monday, 13th February, along with a statement saying: “Let cotton flourish wherever there is an occupier.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 356th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 14th February 2023, Russia had lost about 139,080 personnel, 3,286 tanks, 6,500 armoured combat vehicles, 2,299 artillery units, 466 multiple launch rocket systems, 234 air defence systems, 298 warplanes, 286 helicopters, 2,011 drones, 857 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,155 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 218 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO’s Secretary-General, has said that Russia has launched a large offensive and was “sending more troops, more weapons, more capabilities”.
Stoltenberg, speaking ahead of a two-day NATO defence minister summit in Brussels, said that supplying aircraft to Ukraine would be discussed.
He also said that Ukraine was going through more ammunition than expected.
Volodymyr Nazarenko, Deputy Commander of Ukraine’s Svoboda Battalion, said that the city of Bakhmut is facing heavy artillery fire from the Russians.
He said: “The city, the city’s suburbs, the entire perimeter, and essentially the entire Bakhmut area and Kostyantynivka are under crazy, chaotic shelling.”
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has thanked Ukrainian soldiers for “preventing the occupiers from encircling Bakhmut”.
General Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has discussed further military aid with US General Christopher Cavoli, the Commander of United States European Command and the NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
Zaluzhnyi said: “We discussed the issue of supplying international military aid to Ukraine and training our units on the territory of partner countries.”
Ukraine’s allies have started training Ukrainian soldiers to use German-made Leopard 2 and other main battle tanks.
Germany reportedly began training Ukrainian soldiers on Leopard tanks on Monday near Munster.
Ukrainian soldiers are also reportedly being trained by Canadian, Norwegian, and Polish military instructors in south-western Poland.
Two Dutch F-35 fighters intercepted three Russian military aircraft over Poland and escorted them away, with the Dutch Ministry of Defence saying: “The then unknown aircraft approached the Polish NATO area of responsibility from Kaliningrad.”
The Dutch MoD added: “After identification, it turned out to be three aircraft: a Russian IL-20M Coot-A that was escorted by two Su-27 Flankers. The Dutch F-35s escorted the formation from a distance and handed over the escort to NATO partners.”
Moldova’s President, Maia Sandu, has accused Russia of planning a coup using foreign saboteurs to overthrow her government, in a bid to use her country in its war against Ukraine and to prevent it from joining the European Union.
President Sandu’s comments came after President Zelensky said that Ukrainian intelligence had intercepted Russian plans “for the destruction of Moldova”. His claims were later corroborated by Moldovan intelligence.
Norway’s intelligence services have said that Russia is on a path to becoming “more authoritarian and militarised” in the next few years.
Lars Nordrum, second in command of Norwegian intelligence, said: “There is no turning back.”
He added: “Russian interests will not be compatible with those of the West.”
