Ukrainian Infantry Fighting Vehicle Takes Out Wagner Mercs In Bakhmut

These images show a Ukrainian infantry fighting vehicle taking out Wagner mercenaries in Bakhmut.

The footage shows the war machine, reportedly a Ukrainian-built BTR-4E amphibious wheeled infantry fighting vehicle in action in the suburbs of the embattled town in eastern Ukraine.

The images show it repeatedly opening fire, reportedly on the position of Wagner mercenaries, and engaging in intense, smoke-filled battles, opening fire on buildings occupied by the Russian side.

The images were obtained from the National Guard of Ukraine on Tuesday, 4th April, along with a statement saying: “Guardsmen demonstrated the firework of the BTR-4E crew of the operational assignment battalion of the ‘Spartan’ brigade in Bakhmut.

“The armoured personnel carrier supported the infantry in the suburbs of Bakhmut.

“The National Guardsmen fired on the positions of the ‘Wagners’ with a 30 mm cannon.”

The statement quoted a soldier named only as ‘Light’ as saying: “The enemy is insidious, we have to be ready for different scenarios. Assault groups are the main forces, but fire support plays a major role.

“In urban conditions, where the battles are quite dense, armoured personnel carriers are less vulnerable and more effective than other types of equipment.”

Ukrainian BTR-4E destroy the Russian military on the eastern borders of Bakhmut in Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by the Command of the 12th separate brigade on Tuesday, Apr. 04, 2023. (@NGU/Newsflash)

The statement continued: “He also noted that street fighting is one of the most difficult and dangerous.

“The defenders of the Bakhmut fortress continue to crush the invaders and destroy their plans to advance in the western direction. Guardsmen of the 3rd operational brigade ‘Spartan’ are a specific component of the Defence Forces of Ukraine.

“They effectively and professionally destroy the Russian invaders on the eastern borders and desperately fight for the freedom and sovereignty of the Ukrainian lands.”

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 406th day of the full-scale war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 5th April 2023, Russia had lost about 176,240 personnel, 3,629 tanks, 7,005 armoured combat vehicles, 2,707 artillery units, 532 multiple launch rocket systems, 280 air defence systems, 306 warplanes, 291 helicopters, 2,283 drones, 911 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,573 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 299 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

Finland has become the 31st member of NATO after Pekka Haavisto, the Finnish Foreign Minister, handed over accession documents to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Brussels.

Ukrainian BTR-4E destroy the Russian military on the eastern borders of Bakhmut in Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by the Command of the 12th separate brigade on Tuesday, Apr. 04, 2023. (@NGU/Newsflash)

Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said: “It is a great day Finland.”

He said that it was a new era for his country and that Finland would be a reliable ally, adding: “Security and stability are those elements which we feel very strongly; if people can live in secure stable circumstances that’s the basic element of happy life.”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said: “This will make Finland safer and NATO stronger.”

Finland’s accession to the alliance means that Russia’s border with NATO has now doubled.

US President Joe Biden has welcomed Finland’s accession to the military alliance and has urged Hungary and Turkey to finish their ratification processes for Sweden to join the Alliance.

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and French President Emmanuel Macron, are set to arrive in China today, Wednesday, in a bid to “reset” ties with Beijing over Ukraine and trade.

Russian investigators have formally charged Darya Trepova, 26, with terrorism over the death of the pro-war military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky who was killed when a bomb hidden inside a small statue went off in a cafe in Saint Petersburg on Sunday.

Ukrainian BTR-4E destroy the Russian military on the eastern borders of Bakhmut in Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by the Command of the 12th separate brigade on Tuesday, Apr. 04, 2023. (@NGU/Newsflash)

The Russian state-owned news agency TASS has said that the number of people who were injured in the explosion has now risen to 40.

The authoritarian President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, is set to travel to Moscow today for two days of talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to the Kremlin.

The parliament of Lithuania has banned Russian nationals from buying property in the country, saying that it is a national security matter.