This is the moment Ukrainian drone operators give Russian troopers ‘holiday gifts’ by bombing their military positions.
With the help of aerial reconnaissance, Ukrainian fighters were able to detect the positions of Russian soldiers in south-eastern Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region.
The footage shows a Ukrainian drone dropping grenades into trenches and fortifications where Russian troops are hiding.
The images were obtained by Newsflash from the Zaporizhzhia Separate Territorial Defence Brigade on 2nd January, along with a statement: “Soldiers of the Berdyan Territorial Defence Battalion also congratulated the occupiers on the New Year, gave them many gifts, as well as several tickets to Kobzon’s [a deceased singer known as the ‘Russian Frank Sinatra’] New Year’s concert.
“Together to victory! Glory to Ukraine!”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 316th day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 5th January, Russia had lost about 109,720 personnel, 3,041 tanks, 6,108 armoured combat vehicles, 2,051 artillery units, 426 multiple launch rocket systems, 215 air defence systems, 284 warplanes, 271 helicopters, 1,844 drones, 723 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,759 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 182 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
The head of the Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said further attacks deeper into Russian territory should be expected but did not specify whether Ukraine would be responsible for them.
Budanov said he would only be able to comment if his country would be behind the strikes after the war was over.
A United States administration official said fierce fighting is likely to continue in the near future, especially around the largely ruined front-line city of Bakhmut.
“The fighting is still quite hot … I think what we’re seeing in Bakhmut we should expect to see elsewhere along the front that there will be continued fighting in the coming months,” the official added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces around Bakhmut were inflicting numerous losses on the Russians and said Moscow was building up its forces in the region.
The Ukrainian foreign minister says that Patriot air defence systems provided by the US are soon to be deployed in Ukraine.
US President Joe Biden said that Washington is also considering sending Bradley Fighting Vehicles to Ukraine.
The Bradley Fighting Vehicle (BFV) is a tracked armoured fighting vehicle platform that provides cross-country mobility, mounted firepower, communications, and protection.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has sent a warship armed with new hypersonic Zircon cruise missiles towards the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Putin said the missiles were unique worldwide.
Russia says that mass production of new combat electronics and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) systems is set to begin in the next couple of months.
France’s government reportedly said it would send Ukraine light AMX-10 RC armoured combat vehicles to help in the war against Russia.
