These images show what is being touted as history’s very first drone versus drone battle, with a Ukrainian UAV and a Russian UAV fighting each other in the skies above a battlefield.
The images, shot from the Ukrainian drone, appear to show the Russian drone slamming into the Ukrainian drone in a bid to knock it out of the sky.
But it does not go as planned for the Russian drone, which can be seen smashing one of its propellers as it hits the Ukrainian drone before disappearing from view. The Ukrainians said that the Russian drone was downed.
The images were obtained from the Office of Strategic Communications (StratCom) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Thursday, 13th October, along with a statement saying: “Mavik from Katsap decided to go for the drone of the Armed Forces. Everything is as usual and everywhere at the katsaps, because of the ‘ace’. Our drone continues to perform combat missions, the katsaps have minus one precious toy.”
Ukrainian media and netizens on social media including the popular app Reddit have been quick to claim that the footage represents the very first drone versus drone battle in history.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 232nd day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 13th October, Russia had lost about 63,800 personnel, 2,511 tanks, 5,167 armoured combat vehicles, 1,556 artillery units, 357 multiple launch rocket systems, 183 air defence systems, 268 warplanes, 240 helicopters, 1,182 drones, 316 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 3,935 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 140 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
The General Assembly of the United Nations has overwhelmingly voted to condemn Russia’s annexation of parts of Ukraine, with 35 countries abstaining, including Pakistan, South Africa, India and China.
The resolution “condemns the organisation by the Russian Federation of so-called referendums within the internationally recognised borders of Ukraine” and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “attempted illegal annexation”, which he announced last month.
The Ukrainian military has announced that it has recaptured more territory near the southern city of Kherson. It is understood that five settlements in the Beryslav district of the north-eastern part of the Kherson region have been recaptured. They have been named as Novovasylivka, Novogrygorivka, Nova Kamyanka, Tryfonivka, and Chervone.
NATO allies have delivered new air defence systems to Ukraine after Russia launched a wave of missile attacks across the country, targeting civilian areas.
The Minister of Defence of Ukraine, Oleksiy Reznikov, said: “A new era of air defence has begun in Ukraine.”
He added: “Iris-Ts from Germany are already here. Nasams [from the US] are coming. This is only the beginning. And we need more.”
The United Kingdom has also said that it will provide AMRAAM air defence missiles that are capable of shooting down cruise missiles.
The European Commission is set to present plans next week geared towards mitigating rising energy costs.
Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson said that there are plans to set up joint gas purchases by 2023 to harness the bloc’s collective purchasing power and to “avoid member states outbidding each other on the market”, which “drives up” prices.
Putin has claimed that Russia is prepared to resume supplying gas to Europe via part of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that remains operational, saying that it was up to the European Union to decide if it wanted gas supplied by this pipeline.
