These images purport to show Russian ‘Tornado’ multiple launch rocket systems opening fire on Ukrainian military positions.
The footage shows one of the Russian war machines manoeuvring into position as it drives through a forested area at an undisclosed location.
A Russian soldier can then be seen setting up the machine, with the footage then cutting to inside one of these vehicles, with two soldiers seen operating it.
The footage then cuts to two of the ‘Tornado’ multiple launch rocket systems seen in a field before they open fire on unseen targets.
The footage then shows what appears to be a third vehicle opening fire before the video ends.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Monday, 21st November, along with a statement claiming (in English): “How new MLRS perform within special military operation
“Tornado-S multiple-launch rocket system of the Western Military District knocks out and destroys command posts, warehouses with arms, munition, fuel and lubricants, communication nodes, air defence means and other targets.
“Tornado-S multiple-launch rocket system is a deeply upgraded version of Smerch MLRS. The improvement concerned munition, communication and control equipment. The developers managed to significantly increase the range, accuracy and firepower of this type of MLRS.
“Like its predecessor, Tornado-S has 12 launchers for 300mm rockets. The system is capable of engaging targets at a substantially greater range than the Smerch.
“The projectiles can be launched at different distances and in different directions. This means that a single Tornado-S can destroy in a single salvo several of the AFU targets.
“Tornado is considered one of the best in the world and surpasses its foreign counterparts in many respects.” (sic)
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 271st day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 21st November, Russia had lost about 84,600 personnel, 2,892 tanks, 5,822 armoured combat vehicles, 1,870 artillery units, 393 multiple launch rocket systems, 209 air defence systems, 278 warplanes, 261 helicopters, 1,537 drones, 480 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,378 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 161 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Russian forces launched nearly 400 strikes in eastern Ukraine as part of a new artillery offensive on Sunday, according to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Zelensky said: “The fiercest battles, as before, are in the Donetsk region. Although there were fewer attacks today due to worsening weather, the amount of Russian shelling unfortunately remains extremely high.”
Zelensky added: “In the Luhansk region, we are slowly moving forward while fighting. As of now, there have been almost 400 artillery attacks in the east since the start of the day.”
Russia has reassigned troops that were in Kherson in southern Ukraine to the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog, is set on Monday to assess potential damage to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant – Europe’s largest – after renewed shelling.
The head of the IAEA, Rafael Grossi, said that the forces responsible for the shelling were “playing with fire”.
Germany has offered Poland Patriot missile defence systems to help protect its airspace after a missile hit the NATO member last week.
Christine Lambrecht, Germany’s Minister of Defence, said: “We have offered Poland support in securing airspace – with our Eurofighters and with Patriot air defence systems.”
Mykhaylo Podolyak, a key adviser to the Ukrainian president, has said that negotiations with Russia would amount to “capitulation”.
Podolyak labelled Western attempts to urge Ukraine to negotiate with Russian President Vladimir Putin as “bizarre” as Ukrainian forces have recently won a number of victories on the battlefield.
He said it would be like saying that the country “that recovers its territories must capitulate to the country that is losing”.
