Story By: Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash
This aerial footage purports to show Russian military vehicles and pieces of Russian military equipment spewing flames and thick, black smoke after they were hit in Ukrainian artillery strikes.
Newsflash obtained the video from the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces (DShV) – one of the five branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and considered the elite of Ukraine’s armed forces – yesterday (Monday, 13th June).
The DShV said (in Ukrainian): “The Air Assault Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces destroyed a BM-27 Uragan multiple rocket launcher and a material and technical support unit of the Russian occupiers.
“Effective use of artillery from the 81st Airmobile Brigade of the Air Assault Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed an BM-27 Uragan multiple rocket launcher together with special vehicles and a logistics base of the Russian Armed Forces, where the occupiers refuelled and serviced military equipment in the field.
“Death to the Russian occupiers! Air Assault Forces – always first! Glory to Ukraine!”
The BM-27 Uragan is a self-propelled 220mm multiple rocket launcher designed in the Soviet Union. It entered service in 1975. It is also used by the Ukrainian military.
The DShV, which are headquartered in Zhytomyr in western Ukraine, did not specify where in the country the footage was filmed.
Russian troops invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 111th day of the campaign.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 14th June, Russia had lost 32,500 personnel, 1,434 tanks, 3,503 armoured fighting vehicles, 721 artillery systems, 229 multiple launch rocket systems, 97 anti-aircraft systems, 213 warplanes, 179 helicopters, 2,473 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, 13 warships/boats, 588 drones, 54 pieces of special equipment and 125 cruise missiles.
All the bridges to the besieged Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk have reportedly been destroyed, the local governor, Serhiy Haidai, has said. Ukrainian forces there are now cut off from any possible retreat and fierce street-to-street fighting is taking place in the city, which has been the focus of Russian artillery fire for weeks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian attacks on the cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk have turned them into “dead cities”. An aide to President Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine is losing up to 200 troops a day.
President Zelenskyy has repeatedly asked for additional weapons from Ukraine’s allies.
The United Kingdom and the United States have said they are sending long-range missile systems to Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of more attacks in Ukraine if the West sends long-range weapons.
Ukrainian officials have said that weapons are not arriving fast enough. An adviser to President Zelenskyy, Mykhailo Podolyak, has said that to end the war, they need “1,000 howitzers caliber 155 mm; 300 MLRS; 500 tanks; 2,000 armored vehicles; 1,000 drones”.
Podolyak added: “Contact Group of Defense Ministers meeting is held in Brussels on June 15. We are waiting for a decision.”
President Putin has said that the West will not be able to wean itself off from Russian oil and gas for years.
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution recommending that the European Union grant Ukraine the status of candidate country for EU membership. Some 438 MEPs voted in favour of the resolution, with 65 voting against and 94 abstaining.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that Turkey has raised legitimate concerns in its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining the alliance and that talks to find a solution would continue.
