Russia has said that it has shot down a Ukrainian drone using an air defence system.
The images purport to show a Russian Tor-M2U air defence system manoeuvring into position before opening fire on the Ukrainian drone.
The vehicle can be seen firing a missile into the sky, with the images then cutting to a screen inside the vehicle apparently showing the Ukrainian drone being hit by the Russian missile.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday, 24th November, along with a statement claiming: “Sky shield: how the calculation of the Tor-M2U air defence system of the Western Military District destroyed an enemy target in the zone of the special military operation.
“Every day, day and night, calculations of the Tor-M2U air defence system ‘scans’ the sky. As soon as the zone of responsibility includes any air object that does not respond to the ‘friend or foe’ request, the crews prepare to hit the target.
“Another enemy UAV was discovered by our anti-aircraft gunners. After some calibrations, the Armed Forces of Ukraine had one less drone.”
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 275th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 25th November, Russia had lost about 86,150 personnel, 2,899 tanks, 5,844 armoured combat vehicles, 1,895 artillery units, 395 multiple launch rocket systems, 209 air defence systems, 278 warplanes, 261 helicopters, 1,553 drones, 531 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,404 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 163 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Petro Kotin, the head of the Ukrainian nuclear power company Energoatom, has said that Moscow is risking a nuclear catastrophe after all the Ukraine’s nuclear power plants were disconnected from the main power grid for the first time in 40 years.
Kotin said: “There is a real danger of a nuclear and radiation catastrophe being caused by firing on the entire territory of Ukraine with Russian cruise and ballistic missiles, and a huge risk of damage to nuclear plants. Russia must answer for this shameful crime.”
Ukraine was expecting three of its nuclear power plants to be operational again by Thursday evening, according to Energy Minister German Galushchenko.
The Kyiv office for The Hague-based International Commission on Missing Persons has said that over 15,000 people have gone missing so far in the war.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has said that G7 Foreign Ministers will discuss during a meeting next week in Bucharest how to continue supporting Ukraine and ensure that it has a steady energy supply over the winter.
European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen said during a visit to Finland that the EU is putting in place a ninth sanctions package on Russia.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russia’s strategy of attempting to destroy Ukraine’s infrastructure would not weaken the country’s resolve to liberate all its territory that is currently occupied by Moscow, calling the conflict a “war of strength and resilience”.
Zelensky said on Thursday evening: “Together we endured nine months of full-scale war and Russia has not found a way to break us, and will not find one.”
Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban has said that Hungary would ratify Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO membership early next year. Hungary and Turkey are the only members of the Alliance who have yet to ratify their accession.
British Foreign Minister James Cleverly has said during a visit to Ukraine that the United Kingdom will pledge millions of pounds to help Kyiv throughout the winter.
