These images show Ukrainian forces blowing up an abandoned Russian mine-clearing vehicle in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, causing a massive explosion.
The footage shows the mine-clearing vehicle being spotted by a drone before it is hit by Ukrainian ordnance, causing a large explosion. It is thought that the mine-clearing vehicle must have been transporting a significant amount of explosive materials for the explosion to have been that big.
The explosion was so big that after the smoke clears, there was nothing left but a blackened crater.
The images were obtained from the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Wednesday, 19th October, along with a statement saying: “The Russian UR-77 abandoned in Donetsk region was destroyed. Such equipment can carry up to 725 kg of explosives.”
The images and statement were also relayed by the Office of Strategic Communications (StratCom) and the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 238th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 19th October, Russia had lost about 66,280 personnel, 2,554 tanks, 5,235 armoured combat vehicles, 1,637 artillery units, 372 multiple launch rocket systems, 189 air defence systems, 269 warplanes, 242 helicopters, 1,286 drones, 323 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 3,999 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 146 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
The new Russian military commander in Ukraine has announced that civilians from the occupied southern city of Kherson are being “resettled”. Sergei Surovikin added that the military situation there was “tense”.
Vladimir Saldo, the Russian-installed head of Kherson, said that civilians in four towns in the region were being relocated in anticipation of a “large-scale offensive”.
Kirill Stremousov, the Russian-installed deputy administrator of the region, said: “The battle for Kherson will begin in the very near future. The civilian population is advised, if possible, to leave the area of the upcoming fierce hostilities.”
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has said that Moscow no longer sees a point in maintaining a diplomatic presence in Western countries. Lavrov said: “There is neither point nor desire to maintain the previous presence in western states. Our people work there in conditions that can hardly be called human.”
Iran has reportedly sent military advisers from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to a Russian military base in occupied Crimea in Ukraine. They were reportedly sent to help Russian forces tackle problems with Shahed-136 drones supplied by Iran.
Iran has reportedly committed to supplying missiles to replenish Russia’s depleted arsenal, according to US and Iranian security officials.
The Secretary of Defence of the United Kingdom, Ben Wallace, reportedly flew to Washington to discuss what security packages could be provided to Ukraine to help them defend themselves against the new threat.
Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary-General of NATO, has said that Ukraine would receive anti-drone defence systems in the coming days.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Tuesday that he was submitting a proposal to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to formally cut diplomatic ties with Teheran.
Russian strikes have hit a power plant in Kyiv, as well as energy infrastructure in Kharkiv, in the east, and in Dnipro, in southern Ukraine.
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has said that Russian airstrikes have destroyed 30 per cent of Ukraine’s power stations since 10th October, causing widespread blackouts across the country.
