Russia has said that it has destroyed Ukrainian command posts and ammo depots and fuel, as well as communication hubs and air defence systems.
The footage purports to show a Russian Tornado-S multiple launch rocket system being prepared for use, with it seen manoeuvring out of a forest area and into a field.
It can then be seen firing a single rocket into the sky.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Friday, 19th May, along with a statement claiming (in English): “The Tornado-S MLRS crews have received new targeting instructions.
“According to the intelligence, AFU units have concentrated military equipment, weapons, and ammunition to supply their forces.
“The Tornado-S are disabling and destroying command posts, depots with weapons, ammunition, and fuel, communication hubs, air defence facilities, and other critical targets located at a significant distance.
“They leave the dangerous area as quickly as possible after the strike, thanks to the crews’ well-coordinated operation, and can strike again from a different firing position within a few minutes.
“They never work in the same spot repeatedly, and they never use the same hiding area for their vehicles.” (sic)
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 450th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 19th May 2023, Russia had lost about 201,760 personnel, 3,777 tanks, 7,377 armoured combat vehicles, 3,210 artillery units, 564 multiple launch rocket systems, 319 air defence systems, 308 warplanes, 294 helicopters, 2,769 drones, 1,011 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 6,083 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 419 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukrainian air defence said they destroyed 19 drones and missiles out of 28 that were launched by Russia earlier today, on Friday morning.
A spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, Yuriy Ihnat, said: “Three Kalibr missiles launched from the Black Sea and 16 drones were shot down. Shelling continues on an almost daily basis.”
And the governor of the Lviv region, Maksym Kozytskyi, said that five drones were shot down over his region overnight.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to attend the upcoming G7 meeting in Japan in person, with the United States and the rest of the G7 powers set to unveil new sanctions against Russia.
The United Kingdom has announced new sanctions ahead of the G7 meeting, with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying that the UK is banning imports of Russian diamonds, copper, nickel and aluminium.
The Pentagon has reportedly overestimated the value of some of the military equipment it has sent to Ukraine by about USD 3 billion. This could reportedly lead to further arms being sent to Kyiv.
British Defence Minister Ben Wallace has said that Ukraine has begun using long-range Storm Shadow missiles provided by the United Kingdom.
He added that there was no doubt that Russia had “the intent and the ability” to target Western underwater communication and energy lines.
