These images show a Ukrainian kamikaze drone hitting a Russian armoured vehicle with it then apparently being finished off by artillery.
The footage begins by showing the Russian war machine driving along a dirt track between two fields with the images then showing the kamikaze drone honing in on its target.
The drone can then be seen hitting the Russian armoured vehicle, causing it to come to a stop.
It can then be seen on fire before it suddenly explodes, with it then gushing even larger flames. The Russian military vehicle can be seen burning profusely as its ammunition appears to detonate.
The images were obtained from the 72nd Mechanized Brigade named after the Black Zaporozhians of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Thursday, 18th May, along with a statement saying: “This is how you can ‘brightly come to Kobzon’s concert’.”
The images and statement were also relayed by the Ground Forces and by Operational Command ‘North’ of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Friday, 19th May.
Iosif Davydovich Kobzon was a Russian singer, known for his crooner style, who died in 2018.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 450th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 19th May 2023, Russia had lost about 201,760 personnel, 3,777 tanks, 7,377 armoured combat vehicles, 3,210 artillery units, 564 multiple launch rocket systems, 319 air defence systems, 308 warplanes, 294 helicopters, 2,769 drones, 1,011 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 6,083 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 419 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukrainian air defence said they destroyed 19 drones and missiles out of 28 that were launched by Russia earlier today, on Friday morning.
A spokesperson for the Ukrainian Air Force, Yuriy Ihnat, said: “Three Kalibr missiles launched from the Black Sea and 16 drones were shot down. Shelling continues on an almost daily basis.”
And the governor of the Lviv region, Maksym Kozytskyi, said that five drones were shot down over his region overnight.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to attend the upcoming G7 meeting in Japan in person, with the United States and the rest of the G7 powers set to unveil new sanctions against Russia.
The United Kingdom has announced new sanctions ahead of the G7 meeting, with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak saying that the UK is banning imports of Russian diamonds, copper, nickel and aluminium.
The Pentagon has reportedly overestimated the value of some of the military equipment it has sent to Ukraine by about USD 3 billion. This could reportedly lead to further arms being sent to Kyiv.
British Defence Minister Ben Wallace has said that Ukraine has begun using long-range Storm Shadow missiles provided by the United Kingdom.
He added that there was no doubt that Russia had “the intent and the ability” to target Western underwater communication and energy lines.
