Ukrainian Troops Blow Up Russian Tanks Hiding Among Trees

These images show how Ukrainian troops spotted a stash of Russian military equipment and troops, which they destroyed using drones in Luhansk Oblast in eastern Ukraine.

The 27th Pechersk Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine worked with their colleagues from the Armed Forces of Ukraine to take out the Russian position.

The images show the stash of Russian military equipment filmed from a drone before the images cut to a bomb falling from a drone and a large explosion among some trees.

Subsequent images then show the area, with armoured vehicles burning. As Ukrainian bombs tumble to the ground a series of massive explosions rip through the Russian military equipment below.

The images were obtained from the National Guard of Ukraine on Saturday, 5th November, along with a statement saying: “Guards together with units of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine defeated accumulation of equipment and manpower of the enemy in the Luhansk region.

“As a result of the successfully completed task, five tanks, two armoured vehicles and enemy manpower were destroyed, the exact losses of which are calculated.”

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 258th day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 8th November, Russia had lost about 77,170 personnel, 2,786 tanks, 5,654 armoured combat vehicles, 1,791 artillery units, 391 multiple launch rocket systems, 203 air defence systems, 278 warplanes, 260 helicopters, 1,476 drones, 399 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,216 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 159 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 claimed that Ukraine’s military forces are progressively pushing back Russian troops in the east and the south of the country.

Picture shows remote screen with target on it in Luhansk region, Ukraine in undated photo. Fighters of the 27th Pechersk Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, together with their colleagues from the Armed Forces of Ukraine, discovered and destroyed five Russian tanks, two armored fighting vehicles and manpower. (National Guard of Ukraine/Newsflash)

Zelensky said “we are gradually moving forward” and added that Russians on the eastern front in the Donetsk region “die by the hundreds every day”.

The Ukrainian energy operator has told citizens to prepare for more blackouts as it tries to reduce strain on parts of the energy infrastructure that have been damaged by Russian missile and drone attacks.

Ukraine’s Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has said that the country has received more air defence systems from its Western allies, saying: “These weapons will significantly strengthen the Ukrainian army and will make our skies safer.”

Ukraine has accused Russian soldiers of occupying and looting empty homes in the city of Kherson in the south of the country in preparation for street fighting as Ukraine tries to retake the city from Moscow’s forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that 50,000 Russian soldiers who were called up as part of his mobilisation push are now fighting within combat units in Ukraine.

Putin added that a total of 80,000 troops from his mobilisation initiative are now “in the zone of the special military operation”, which is what the Kremlin calls the war in Ukraine, with the remainder of the nearly 320,000 recently mobilised forces currently training in Russia.

There is reportedly growing anger in Russia about what is being perceived as Putin’s willingness to throw hundreds of poorly trained conscripts on the frontlines.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukraine’s president, has said that his country had never refused to negotiate with Moscow and was prepared to negotiate with its future leader, but not with Putin.

Podolyak said: “Ukraine has never refused to negotiate. Our negotiating position is known and open.”

He added: “Is Putin ready? Obviously not. Therefore, we are constructive in our assessment: we will talk with the next leader.”