Ukrainian Special Forces Take Out Russian Positions With Kamikaze Drones In Donetsk

These images show Ukrainian special forces taking out Russian positions with kamikaze drones in Donetsk.

The footage begins by showing Ukrainian drones taking off before the images cut to their operators.

The images then show how the drones spotted some Russian soldiers, who are then apparently targeted with a mortar before the footage cuts to the kamikaze drones’ on-board cameras showing them approaching their targets before the images cut out as they hit them.

The images were obtained from the Command of the Special Operations Forces (SSO) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Monday, 20th March, along with a statement saying: “In the Donetsk area, operators of the SSO of Ukraine sent another batch of occupiers to hell.

“Enemy weapons such as the MANPADS ‘Needle’, two types of ATGM (Kornet and Fagot), drone guns and an LNG, did not save them from destruction.

“Our soldiers continue to cleanse the Ukrainian land of the unclean. We do everything for Victory, and even more!”

The images were also relayed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine along with a statement saying: “‘IGLA’ MANPADS, two types of ATGM (‘Kornet’ and ‘Fagot’), drone guns and an LNG did not save the occupiers of Donetsk region from destruction.

“Soldiers of the Special Operations Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces continue to clear the Ukrainian land of Russian invaders! Let’s stand and win!”

Ukrainian Special Forces hit Russian military position with kamikaze drones in Donetsk region in Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by the Command of the Special Operations Forces on Monday, Mar. 20, 2023. (@usofcom/Newsflash)

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 390th day of the full-scale war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 20th March 2023, Russia had lost about 165,610 personnel, 3,537 tanks, 6,869 armoured combat vehicles, 2,577 artillery units, 507 multiple launch rocket systems, 270 air defence systems, 305 warplanes, 290 helicopters, 2,160 drones, 907 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,416 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 265 units of special equipment.

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

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague against Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “turning point” in the ongoing conflict.

He said that the warrant signified a “truly significant international legal result for Ukraine, for justice […].”

Zelensky added that it represents “the moment after which it becomes undeniable that the end of this aggression for Russia will be the full range of its responsibility.”

Ministers of justice from over 40 countries are set to meet in London to hold discussions about boosting support for the ICC regarding its investigations into Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Special Forces navigate the kamikaze drone towards Russian military positions in Donetsk region in Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by the Command of the Special Operations Forces on Monday, Mar. 20, 2023. (@usofcom/Newsflash)

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic, who has previously stated he has a close personal relationship with Putin, has criticised the international arrest warrant against him, saying that it will prolong the conflict.

He said: “I think issuing an arrest warrant for Putin, not to go into legal matters, will have bad political consequences and it says that there is a great reluctance to talk about peace [and] about truce.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to begin a state visit to Russia, reportedly seeking to present his country as a global peacemaker and strengthen ties with Russia.

Putin has reportedly visited a command post located in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, according to the Russian state-owned news agency TASS.

The move comes after Putin visited Russian-occupied Mariupol and Crimea.

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has said that Putin visited Mariupol “under the cover of night” to avoid showing the Russian people the scale of the destruction in the city.

Ukrainian Special Forces hit Russian military position with kamikaze drones in Donetsk region in Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by the Command of the Special Operations Forces on Monday, Mar. 20, 2023. (@usofcom/Newsflash)

The Ukrainian MoD said that “darkness allows them to highlight what he wants to show, and keeps […] It’s few surviving inhabitants away from prying eyes.”

There is reportedly a shortage of explosives in Europe including gunpowder, plastic explosives and TNT, which could mean that Europe’s defence industry is hampered when it comes to meeting orders from the European Union to supply Ukraine with ammunition.