This slickly-produced nighttime footage shows a Soviet BM-21 Grad multiple rocket launcher firing a salvo of missiles towards a Ukrainian military target.
The People’s Militia of the DPR (Donetsk People’s Republic) said in a statement obtained by Newsflash on 18th December: “A BM-21 Grad crew of the 238th Artillery Brigade carry out their difficult work at any time of day or night, in rain and snow, in the Svatovsky direction.
“The exact defeat of the set targets is the result of excellent training and well-coordinated work of the combat crew.”
The People’s Militia of the DPR still exists as an entity despite the annexation of the Donetsk People’s Republic to Russia.
Svatovsky is the Russian transliteration of Svativskyi district, which, as of 19th December, the front line runs through.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 299th day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 19th December, Russia had lost about 98,800 personnel, 2,988 tanks, 5,969 armoured combat vehicles, 1,953 artillery units, 410 multiple launch rocket systems, 212 air defence systems, 281 warplanes, 264 helicopters, 1,657 drones, 653 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,592 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 175 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Kyiv’s critical infrastructure was targeted by a wave of Russian military drone attacks early on 19th December.
Some 20 Iran-made drones were deployed to and around Ukraine’s capital, with air defence systems destroying about three-quarters of them.
Officials in Kyiv have confirmed that a critical infrastructure point was hit, without giving further details.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to announce a new military aid package for Ukraine worth GBP 250 million.
It will include “hundreds of thousands of rounds of artillery ammunition” for use against invading Russian forces.
And officials in Ukraine have dismissed calls for a negotiated peace from former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger as “appeasing the aggressor”.
