The pro-Russian, so-called Donetsk People’s Republic has shown off its artillery that it says is carrying out “a cleansing of the village of Pervomayskoye” in eastern Ukraine.
The footage apparently shows Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) artillery opening fire on Ukrainian positions. A piece of artillery can be seen firing shells before the footage cuts to what appear to be Ukrainian soldiers being targeted in an urban area.
Some soldiers can be seen apparently running from house to house while being targeted by artillery.
A number of houses can be seen being hit, apparently by artillery shells.
The images were obtained from the People’s Militia of the DPR on Tuesday, 18th October, along with a statement claiming: “The 11th Regiment destroys Ukrainian militants in Pervomaiskoye by all available means.
“Fighters of the 11th Regiment and the ‘Somalia’ Battalion continue to carry out a cleansing of the village of Pervomaiskoye. The personnel, equipment and shelters of the enemy are identified with the help of UAVs and then destroyed by artillery and armoured vehicles.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
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.