These images show Ukrainian artillery working hard against the Russian invaders, with Ukraine’s 43rd Separate Artillery Brigade marking the country’s “Armed Forces Day”.
The footage shows Ukrainian self-propelled howitzers opening fire repeatedly on Russian positions, with the latter then seen being hit by the Ukrainian ordnance.
The images were obtained from the 43rd Separate Artillery Brigade named after Hetman Taras Triasylo of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Tuesday, 6th December, along with a statement saying: “As long as the Armed Forces of Ukraine exist, our Motherland will never be captured by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.
“As long as we exist, we will have only Ukrainian history and a Ukrainian future.
“As long as there is the 43rd Separate Artillery Brigade, the enemy will feel our fire every day.
“Happy Armed Forces Day!”
The Day of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is marked on 6th December, the day of the adoption in 1991 of the law “On the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky congratulated the Ukrainian military yesterday on his official Telegram channel, saying: “Our Armed Forces protect their native land, and this gives the strongest possible motivation.
“They fight for freedom, and this always increases any strength. They defend the truth, which means they defend the future of Ukraine.
“We are proud of you, we admire you, thank you.
“To each and every one! With deep respect – the President of Ukraine. Glory to the Ukrainian Armed Forces! Glory to Ukraine!”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 287th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 7th December, Russia had lost about 92,740 personnel, 2,935 tanks, 5,909 armoured combat vehicles, 1,923 artillery units, 395 multiple launch rocket systems, 211 air defence systems, 281 warplanes, 264 helicopters, 1,601 drones, 592 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,526 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 163 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
The governor of the Russian region of Kursk Oblast, Roman Starovoyt has said that a drone attack has set fire to an oil storage tank at an airfield some 280 kilometres (175 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
The attack comes a day after two military airfields were also reportedly attacked deep inside Russia’s territory.
One of the attacks reportedly hit the Engels airfield in the Saratov region, which is where Russia houses some of its strategic nuclear bombers.
Kyiv has not directly claimed responsibility for the attacks, with the United States saying on Tuesday that it had not “enabled” Ukraine to carry out strikes inside Russia.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: “We have neither encouraged nor enabled the Ukrainians to strike inside of Russia.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly convened his Security Council following the alleged drone strikes.
The Kremlin has said that Putin has met with senior officials to discuss “domestic security”, adding that Moscow was taking “necessary” steps to protect itself from further attacks.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that he agrees with Blinken that there needs to be peace in Ukraine, but he added that Russia does not see peace talks as a possible option “at the moment”.
Peskov added that for peace talks to be able to take place, Russia would first need to achieve the goals of its “special military operation”.
The Ministry of Health of Ukraine has requested that regional authorities suspend non-essential surgeries at the country’s hospitals due to the ongoing power blackouts caused by waves of Russian missile strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
EU officials have said that they will make sure that Ukraine gets EUR 18 billion in financial aid. The move comes after Hungary said it would block the funds from being released, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also accused of “holding hostage” funds destined for Ukraine’s hospitals.
Orban’s government has been accused of “cynical obstructionism” after Hungary said on Tuesday that it would block the EUR 18 billion in aid.
