Russia has said that its forces have destroyed a Ukrainian stronghold using self-propelled guns.
The footage purports to show one of the Russian self-propelled guns manoeuvring into position at speed before repeatedly opening fire and then cuts to what appears to be drone footage of the Ukrainian position being hit.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Tuesday, 23rd May, along with a statement claiming: “Self-propelled artillery units of the Airborne Forces conduct daily combat work on the right bank of the Dnieper.”
The Russian MoD added: “The Russian Ministry of Defence is releasing footage of the combat work of artillery units of the Airborne Forces to destroy manpower and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the right bank of the Dnieper.
“Crews of 120-mm 2S9 ‘Nona-S’ self-propelled artillery units of the Airborne Forces daily conduct combat work to destroy manpower, equipment and fortifications of Ukrainian nationalists, on the right bank of the Dnieper.
“Crews of 2S9 Nona-S self-propelled guns performed a tactical manoeuvre towards firing positions. After pointing at the given coordinates, aimed shots are fired along a hinged trajectory from open positions at the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, inflicting fire damage on them.
“Reconnaissance, fire correction and control of target destruction confirmed the destruction of a nationalist stronghold.”
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 454th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 23rd May 2023, Russia had lost about 204,360 personnel, 3,789 tanks, 7,419 armoured combat vehicles, 3,318 artillery units, 565 multiple launch rocket systems, 327 air defence systems, 309 warplanes, 295 helicopters, 2,864 drones, 1,015 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 6,139 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 433 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Anti-Putin militia have claimed that they have overrun a Russian border settlement in Belgorod.
Fighting has broken out along Russia’s border with Ukraine after self-styled Russian partisan forces calling themselves the Freedom of Russia Legion launched a cross-border raid.
They said their goal is to liberate Russia from Vladimir Putin and claimed to have taken a border settlement for the first time since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian Governor of Belgorod, Vyacheslav Gladkov, also claimed that Kozinka had come under fire from Ukrainian artillery.
He added that eight people had been wounded and most of the residents had left the area, saying that the situation remained “tense”.
Defence ministers from the Northern Group, made up of 12 northern European countries, met to discuss increasing the security of NATO’s eastern flank and strengthening Ukraine’s defences.
The British government said in a statement that “ministers and representatives from Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden and the UK met in Warsaw”.
The meeting was attended by UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace, who said: “Defence partnerships like the Northern Group are vital to tackle shared threats. As likeminded nations we are determined to continue our support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, for as long as it takes.”
The Russian Ambassador to the United States, Anatoly Antonov, said on Monday that providing F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine would raise questions about NATO’s role in the conflict, adding that any Ukrainian strikes on Crimea would be considered strikes on Russia.
He added: “It is important that the United States be fully aware of the Russian response.”
