Russia has said that its paratroopers have destroyed a Ukrainian stronghold using a BMD-4M infantry fighting vehicle.
The footage purports to show the Russian infantry fighting vehicle manoeuvring into position and opening fire on the Ukrainian positions with its 100-millimetre cannon.
The images then cut to what appear to be drone images of explosions on the Ukrainian position.
The footage then shows the Russian war machine opening fire with its 30-millimetre autocannon.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday, 17th May, along with a statement claiming: “An armoured group of the Russian Airborne Forces destroyed personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in strongholds using a BMD-4M.”
The Russian MoD added: “The Russian Defence Ministry is releasing footage of the joint combat work of an armoured group of one of the formations of the Airborne Forces in the NVO zone.
“The reconnaissance group of the Airborne Forces, using a UAV, discovered a platoon stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the forest.
“To destroy it, it was decided to use the armoured group on the BMD-4M airborne combat vehicles.
“The crews of military vehicles, having made a march on standard equipment, approached the enemy and opened heavy fire at him with direct fire from a 30-mm automatic cannon, as well as from indirect firing positions from a 100-mm cannon, destroying the personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in strong points.
“After completing the assigned task, the armoured group promptly retreated to a safe area.”
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 448th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 17th May 2023, Russia had lost about 200,590 personnel, 3,771 tanks, 7,365 armoured combat vehicles, 3,166 artillery units, 562 multiple launch rocket systems, 318 air defence systems, 308 warplanes, 294 helicopters, 2,748 drones, 982 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 6,067 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 417 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukraine has said that it successfully shot down all six of the Kinzhal hypersonic missiles that the Kremlin fired at Kyiv in an “exceptionally intense” night-time attack on the Ukrainian capital.
If confirmed, this would demonstrate that Ukraine’s newly acquired Western air defences are effective against the weapons, which Russia had said were all but unstoppable.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu reportedly dismissed the claim and said that one of the missiles had destroyed an American-built Patriot surface-to-air missile defence system, according to Russian state media.
The attack on Kyiv was reportedly the biggest since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia and came as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky concluded a three-day trip around Europe.
Zelensky met with leaders in London, Berlin, Paris and Rome, securing promises of further military assistance, including long-range drones from the United Kingdom.
The British government has announced Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte have agreed to create an “international coalition” to help supply Ukraine with F-16 fighter jets.
Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar has said that Ukrainian forces have retaken approximately 20 square kilometres territory from Russian forces near the embattled eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.
