Ukrainian Paratroopers Repel Russian Attack And Destroy Tank

These images show how Ukrainian paratroopers repelled a Russian attack on their position and destroyed a tank using an anti-tank missile system.

The footage shows the Russian on fire, with smoke rising into the air after it was hit by Ukrainian ordnance.

Ukrainian shelling can be seen hitting thereby, with Russian soldiers retreating from their position.

The images were obtained from the 79th Mykolaiv Air Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces on Wednesday, 15th March, along with a statement saying: “Mykolaiv paratroopers repulsed an assault on their positions and destroyed a tank.

“Paratroopers of the 79th separate amphibious assault brigade continue to hold defensive lines near Donetsk.

“Assaults of positions take place here every day. To knock out the paratroopers, the enemy often uses armoured vehicles – tanks, BMPs, and armoured personnel carriers.

“This time, the enemy threw a tank and infantry into the assault. The video already shows the consequences of the work of the 79th anti-tankers, who hit a powerful enemy combat vehicle with an anti-tank missile.

“The paratroopers’ artillery finished the job, forcing the enemy infantry to flee. Together to victory! Glory to Air Assault Forces! Glory to Ukraine!”

Russian tank explodes in a residential area of Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by the 79th Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces on Wednesday, Mar. 15, 2023. (@79AMBUA/Newsflash)

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 385th day of the full-scale war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 15th March 2023, Russia had lost about 161,520 personnel, 3,492 tanks, 6,799 armoured combat vehicles, 2,528 artillery units, 502 multiple launch rocket systems, 262 air defence systems, 304 warplanes, 289 helicopters, 2,132 drones, 907 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,377 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 257 units of special equipment.

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

A Russian fighter jet has collided with a US Reaper drone, causing it to crash into the Black Sea in what the United States said was an “unsafe and unprofessional” manoeuvre.

The US’ European Command said the incident took place shortly after 7am on Tuesday, 14th March, when two Russian Su-27 fighter jets approach the American drove over international waters west of Russian-occupied Crimea.

The US State Department summoned Russian ambassador over the incident in what White House officials said was a unique incident.

Russian tank explodes in a residential area of Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by the 79th Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces on Wednesday, Mar. 15, 2023. (@79AMBUA/Newsflash)

Anatoly Antonov, the Russian Ambassador to the United States, has reportedly called the incident a provocation.

Antonov reportedly added: “We do not want any confrontation between the United States and Russia. We are in favour of building pragmatic relations.”

The Pentagon, meanwhile, has said that the drone was on a routine intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance mission.

US Air Force Brigadier General Pat Ryders said that Russia was not currently in possession of the drone but did not say whether or not Moscow was seeking to obtain the wreckage to analyse it.

The Russian Ministry of Defence has said that its fighter jets “did not use weapons and did not come into contact” with the drone.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky and the heads of the Ukrainian military have agreed to continue defending the besieged eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, said that defending Bakhmut was of “paramount strategic importance” and that it was “key to the stability of the defence of the entire front”.

The Prime Minister of Poland, Mateusz Morawiecki, has said that his country could supply MiG fighter jets to Ukraine in the coming four to six weeks.