Ukrainian Marines Destroy Iranian-Made Russian Shahed-136 Drones During Night Battle

These images show Ukrainian Marines shooting down Iranian-made Russian Shahed-136 drones during a night battle.

The images show the night battle between the Ukrainian marines and the Russian drones, with explosions occurring as the drones are apparently shot down.

The images were obtained from the Rear Admiral Mykhailo Bilynskyi 36th Separate Marine Brigade of the Ukrainian Navy on Tuesday, 25th October, along with a statement saying that they were “guarding the skies over Mykolaiv Oblast”.

They added: “The other day, a mobile group of small-arms anti-aircraft marines landed a flock of Russian kamikaze drones.”

The 36th Separate Marine Brigade also said: “Glory to the marine marines of Ukraine!”

The images and statement were also relayed by the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 244th day of the war.

Picture shows the work of the Ukrainian air defence systems on the Russian UAVs “Shahed-136” over the Mykolaiv region in Ukraine in undated footage. According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine the marines destroyed three UAVs “Shahed-136”. (@36obmp/Newsflash)

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 25th October, Russia had lost about 68,420 personnel, 2,611 tanks, 5,321 armoured combat vehicles, 1,674 artillery units, 377 multiple launch rocket systems, 190 air defence systems, 271 warplanes, 248 helicopters, 1,372 drones, 350 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,054 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 149 units of special equipment.

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

Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Defence Minister, has reportedly told some of his Western counterparts that the war is heading towards “uncontrolled escalation”, with Moscow reportedly assessing how it will react if it is defeated in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson.

Picture shows the work of the Ukrainian air defence systems on the Russian UAVs “Shahed-136” over the Mykolaiv region in Ukraine in undated footage. According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine the marines destroyed three UAVs “Shahed-136”. (@36obmp/Newsflash)

Kyrylo Budanov, the Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, has said that Russia is sending new military units into Kherson in preparation for the advancing Ukrainian counteroffensive.

Budanov also said that Russia would only slow down the advance of Ukraine’s troops in the south of the country by approximately two weeks were it to blow up the nearby Kakhovka dam.

The United Nations’ (UN) nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is sending inspectors to Ukraine after the country requested that an expert mission be sent to disapprove Russia’s claims that Ukraine is planning to use a “dirty bomb”.

The UN has said that urgent steps need to be taken to deal with a backlog of over 150 ships involved in the Ukrainian grain export deal in the Black Sea. Ukraine has said that Russian inspections are creating “significant” delays and are “politically motivated”.

Picture shows the work of the Ukrainian air defence systems on the Russian UAVs “Shahed-136” over the Mykolaiv region in Ukraine in undated footage. According to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine the marines destroyed three UAVs “Shahed-136”. (@36obmp/Newsflash)

Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has asked Israel to support its fight against Russia by providing Israeli air defence systems. Israel has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but has so far only assisted Ukraine by giving humanitarian aid and defensive equipment.

Anton Krasovsky, a pro-Putin television presenter, has been accused of inciting genocide after saying that Ukrainian children should be “drowned” and “burned” alive during an interview on the state-funded channel RT.

Krasovsky was suspended pending an investigation after his comments caused a significant backlash. The head of Russia’s investigative committee has said that it will review his comments as part of a possible criminal investigation.