Pro-Russian Donetsk People’s Republic officials have admitted this footage shows them dropping bombs on a Ukrainian medical transport vehicle evacuating wounded soldiers.
If the claim is true, it is in defiance of international law, which states that medical personnel are supposed to be entitled to protection and should not be the subject of violence.
The footage begins by showing what appears to be the Ukrainian medical evacuation vehicle and several Ukrainian soldiers lending assistance to some of their injured comrades. A stretcher appears to be visible on the ground.
The video, filmed from above by the DPR’s drone, shows a number of Ukrainian soldiers go down as it drops a bomb on their position, with the vehicle then filmed leaving the area.
The images were obtained from the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) on Sunday, 22nd January, along with a statement claiming: “Attack drone of the 3rd brigade disrupted the evacuation of Ukrainian militants.
“The enemy is suffering heavy losses from the strike UAVs of the 3rd brigade of the 1st Donetsk Army Corps.
“During the raid, several Ukrainian militants were wounded and an SUV arrived at their positions to evacuate them.
“However, after a repeated strike, several more militants were injured.
“The recovery vehicle, leaving the wounded to die, hastened to leave the 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 334th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 23rd January 2023, Russia had lost about 121,480 personnel, 3,150 tanks, 6,276 armoured combat vehicles, 2,146 artillery units, 447 multiple launch rocket systems, 220 air defence systems, 287 warplanes, 277 helicopters, 1,894 drones, 749 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 4,936 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 193 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Annalena Baerbock, Germany’s Foreign Minister, has said that her country will not “stand in the way” of Poland sending Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
Speaking to French television station LCI, Baerbock was asked what Germany’s reaction would be if Poland sent its Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, and she replied: “For the moment the question has not been asked, but if we were asked we would not stand in the way.”
Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, has said that Germany will “continue to support Ukraine – for as long and as comprehensively as necessary.”
He added: “Together, as Europeans – in defence of our European peace project.”
Poland has said that it is ready to deliver 14 Leopard tanks to Kyiv but added that it is waiting for “a clear statement” from the German government.
Mateusz Morawiecki, Poland’s Prime Minister, has criticised Germany’s failure to supply Ukraine with tanks.
Morawiecki said: “Germany’s attitude is unacceptable. It has been almost a year since the war began. Innocent people are dying every day.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that he has not ruled out sending Leclerc tanks to Ukraine.
Macron said: “As for the Leclercs, I have asked the Ministry of Defence to work on it. Nothing is excluded.”
Russia has claimed that it has made advances in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region after months of stalemate, according to local officials installed by Russia.
The Russian Ministry of Defence claimed: “During offensive operations in the direction of Zaporizhzhia, units of the eastern military district took up more advantageous ground and positions.”
The head of the Norwegian Armed Forces, Eirik Kristoffersen, has estimated that 180,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine last February and that 100,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or wounded, with 30,000 civilians killed. It is unclear how the numbers were calculated.
