These images show Ukrainian troops using drones to take out Russian soldiers in trenches on the frontlines.
The footage, filmed from above by a drone, shows at least seven Russian soldiers marching along a trench on the frontlines.
The drone drops a bomb on top of them. The device explodes and appears to injure the soldier who is first in line and a soldier behind him.
He falls to the ground inside the trench, as does the other soldier, with both no longer moving.
The images then cut to two Russian soldiers, who can be seen near a bush. The drone drops a bomb right on top of the bush, causing black smoke to rise into the air. One soldier can then be seen running out from under the bush before the other one follows him.
The footage then shows two Russian soldiers who appear to be setting up and firing a mortar. The drone drops a bomb on them, but they appear to notice that something is up and start to run.
They hastily retreat inside a dugout before the drone targets that as well. It drops a bomb right on top of it that lands inside it, causing smoke to rise as it explodes.
The images were obtained from the 30th Prince Konstanty Ostrogski Mechanized Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces on Monday, 24th October, along with a statement saying that they were filmed “in the Bakhmut area” and that “the occupiers are already less eager to shoot in our direction.”
The images and statement were also relayed by the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Tuesday, 25th of October.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 244th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 25th October, Russia had lost about 68,420 personnel, 2,611 tanks, 5,321 armoured combat vehicles, 1,674 artillery units, 377 multiple launch rocket systems, 190 air defence systems, 271 warplanes, 248 helicopters, 1,372 drones, 350 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,054 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 149 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Defence Minister, has reportedly told some of his Western counterparts that the war is heading towards “uncontrolled escalation”, with Moscow reportedly assessing how it will react if it is defeated in the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson.
Kyrylo Budanov, the Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence, has said that Russia is sending new military units into Kherson in preparation for the advancing Ukrainian counteroffensive.
Budanov also said that Russia would only slow down the advance of Ukraine’s troops in the south of the country by approximately two weeks were it to blow up the nearby Kakhovka dam.
The United Nations’ (UN) nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), is sending inspectors to Ukraine after the country requested that an expert mission be sent to disapprove Russia’s claims that Ukraine is planning to use a “dirty bomb”.
The UN has said that urgent steps need to be taken to deal with a backlog of over 150 ships involved in the Ukrainian grain export deal in the Black Sea. Ukraine has said that Russian inspections are creating “significant” delays and are “politically motivated”.
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has asked Israel to support its fight against Russia by providing Israeli air defence systems. Israel has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine but has so far only assisted Ukraine by giving humanitarian aid and defensive equipment.
Anton Krasovsky, a pro-Putin television presenter, has been accused of inciting genocide after saying that Ukrainian children should be “drowned” and “burned” alive during an interview on the state-funded channel RT.
Krasovsky was suspended pending an investigation after his comments caused a significant backlash. The head of Russia’s investigative committee has said that it will review his comments as part of a possible criminal investigation.
