Ukrainian Troops Blow Up Russian BMP

These images reportedly show a Russian BMP being destroyed by Ukrainian forces.

The footage, a recording of a computer screen, reportedly shows the Russian war machine being destroyed by the Ukrainian forces.

The images were obtained from the 46th Separate Aeromobile Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Friday, 3rd February, along with a statement saying: “The occupiers will never have peace on our land!

“The stop for a smoke break of the crew of the BMP and the truck had a bright logical continuation.

“Thanks to the vigilance and accuracy of the fighters of the anti-tank company of our brigade, you can watch loud fireworks from the enemy ammunition and fried ‘cockroaches’. Such a ‘warm’ reception is provided to all Russians who have not yet realised: they are, to put it mildly, not welcome in Ukraine.”

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

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 345th day of the war.

Ukrainian fighters from the 46th separate airmobile brigade destroy Russian BMP in Ukraine in undated footage. The footage released by the 46th Separate Aeromobile Brigade on Friday, Feb. 03, 2023. (@oaembr46/Newsflash )

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 3rd February 2023, Russia had lost about 129,870 personnel, 3,215 tanks, 6,388 armoured combat vehicles, 2,215 artillery units, 460 multiple launch rocket systems, 222 air defence systems, 294 warplanes, 284 helicopters, 1,952 drones, 796 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,068 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 202 units of special equipment.

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

The European Union has said that it will train an additional 15,000 Ukrainian soldiers, effectively doubling one of its military aid programmes.

Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, said at the beginning of a two-day trip to Kyiv, that the EU will “stand by Ukraine for the long haul”.

She also reiterated that the EU plans to have a 10th package of sanctions in place against Russia by the anniversary date of the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, on 24th February.

The European Union also wants to work with Ukrainian prosecutors to set up an international centre in The Hague to prosecute the perpetrators of crimes committed in Ukraine, von der Leyen said.

Ukrainian fighters from the 46th separate airmobile brigade destroy Russian BMP in Ukraine in undated footage. The footage released by the 46th Separate Aeromobile Brigade on Friday, Feb. 03, 2023. (@oaembr46/Newsflash )

The European Parliament has voted in favour of a roadmap outlining Ukraine’s path to becoming a member of the European Union.

The UK’s Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, has said that sending fighter jets to Ukraine would imply “months if not years” of training and he was looking for more effective ways of helping Ukraine to secure victory.

But Mateusz Morawiecki, the Prime Minister of Poland, has said he is open to providing Kyiv with F-16 fighter jets if such a decision were to be taken in concert with NATO allies.

The Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Oleksii Reznikov, has said that Moscow is planning a major offensive to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the invasion, on 24th February.

He reportedly claimed that this could involve 500,000 Russian troops.

Two additional Russian missiles hit the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk on Thursday after an apartment block was destroyed in the city on Wednesday evening.

The regional governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko, has said that the latest strikes resulted in civilian casualties, but it is currently unclear how many.