These images show a captured Russian armoured personnel carrier fully restored to working condition and being put to good use by Ukrainian paratroopers.
The footage shows the BTR-82 armoured personnel carrier being operated by Ukrainian soldiers and firing off some rounds from its turret gun.
The images were obtained from the 71st Separate Jaeger Brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces on Thursday, 17th November, along with a statement saying: “Captured armoured personnel carrier. The hunters won the BTR-82 trophy in the battles.
“Russian Lend-Lease was comforted, even though they had to tinker with it. The car is in good condition, the machine gun is fully functional, but I had to suffer with the 30 mm gun. It’s as if the mechanisms are working, but I didn’t want to shoot.
“But the careful hands of the paratroopers, a little ingenuity and perseverance – and the formidable weapon is ready to mercilessly destroy its previous owners. The ORYX intelligence agency claims that during the Russian-Ukrainian war, our soldiers captured about 200 of these – trophy BTR-82s. And how many of the 200 occupiers they managed to destroy – even intelligence officers cannot count.”
The images were also relayed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 267th day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 17th November, Russia had lost about 83,110 personnel, 2,878 tanks, 5,804 armoured combat vehicles, 1,860 artillery units, 393 multiple launch rocket systems, 209 air defence systems, 278 warplanes, 261 helicopters, 1,531 drones, 474 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,362 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 160 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
US President Joe Biden has questioned Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky’s claim that the missile that landed in Poland on 15th November was not of Ukrainian origin.
NATO and Poland have surmised that the missile – which landed near the border with Ukraine, killing two – likely strayed after being fired by Ukraine’s air defences.
A Polish-American team is investigating the blast scene, while Kyiv has also demanded access.
The Verkhovna Rada – the unicameral parliament of Ukraine – has extended martial law and general mobilisation for 90 more days, until 19th February 2023.
President Zelensky said today that the UN-backed agreement that allows Ukrainian grain exports safe passage through the Black Sea will be extended by 120 days.
The UK Ministry of Defence said in a report released this morning: “Over the afternoon of 15 November, Russia carried out up to 80 long range missile strikes, mostly against power infrastructure targets across Ukraine.
“This is likely the largest number of strikes that Russia has conducted in a single day since the first week of the invasion.”
