The so-called Donetsk People’s Republic has said that it is holding airspace in Donetsk with the help of Osa surface-to-air missile systems.
The footage shows what appears to be an Osa surface-to-air missile system sporting the now infamous white ‘Z’ symbol manoeuvring out of a warehouse somewhere in eastern Ukraine before being set up in a field.
The ‘Z’ is one of the symbols, as well as the letters ‘V’ and ‘O’ that can be seen painted on Russian military vehicles taking part in the invasion of Ukraine.
The vehicle can then apparently be seen preparing to deploy its weaponry before it fires one of its missiles at an unclear target which can be seen on a screen inside the surface-to-air missile system.
The images were obtained from the People’s Militia of the pro-Russian Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) on 27th October, along with a statement claiming: “The People’s Militia of the Donetsk People’s Republic are protecting the skies of Donetsk with ‘Osa’ SAM [surface-to-air missile].
“The air defence units of the People’s Militia of the DPR keep the airspace of Donbas under reliable protection, for this the units are armed with everything necessary.”
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 247th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 28th October, Russia had lost about 69,700 personnel, 2,640 tanks, 5,378 armoured combat vehicles, 1,698 artillery units, 379 multiple launch rocket systems, 192 air defence systems, 272 warplanes, 251 helicopters, 1,401 drones, 351 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,088 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 151 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 said that the world faces “probably the most dangerous” decade since World War II.
Putin said: “We are at a historical frontier. Ahead is probably the most dangerous, unpredictable and at the same time important decade since the end of World War II.”
The Russian leader made the comments during a long speech at the annual Valdai Discussion Club, a forum of Russian specialists, on Thursday, 27th October, during which he accused the West of using nuclear blackmail against Russia and attempted to justify Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Putin also said that the West’s “undivided dominance” over world affairs was coming to an end.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russia has launched over 30 drone attacks on Ukraine in the last two days. He also added that in total, Moscow has carried out some 4,500 missile strikes and over 8,000 air raids since the beginning of the invasion in February.
Speaking from the capital Kyiv and standing beside what appeared to be a downed Iranian Shahed drone, Zelensky vowed to “clip the wings” of Moscow’s air power.
The United States and its allies have claimed that Iran is supplying large numbers of combat drones to Russia but Moscow and Tehran have so far denied this.
Speaking in the Canadian capital Ottawa, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken called Russia’s aggressive use of drones “appalling”. He said that Russia was using the devices to “kill Ukrainian civilians and destroy the infrastructure they rely on for electricity, for water, for heat”.
Ukrainians living in the capital Kyiv and the surrounding area have been informed of a “sharp deterioration” in the region’s electricity supply after further Russian strikes. A new timetable for scheduled blackouts will be introduced in the capital in the coming days.
Ksenia Sobchak, a Russian journalist and Putin’s rumoured goddaughter, has reportedly fled to Lithuania, according to intelligence services in Vilnius. This is after police in Moscow reportedly raided one of her homes. She is the daughter of a former Mayor of St Petersburg, Anatoly Sobchak, who Putin had previously described as his mentor.
