Story By: Ana Marjanovic, Sub-Editor: Michael Leidig, Agency: Newsflash
These images show a Russian mobile short-range ballistic missile system in action in Ukraine, with topographers producing a map before the vehicle fires its ordnance.
The footage shows a Russian military vehicle with a white ‘Z’ daubed on the side pulling up by the side of a road bordering a lush, green field.
Soldiers can be seen hurriedly running into the field and taking cover in some bushes before setting up some equipment.
The footage then shows the same activity being repeated in a different location, with two soldiers – it is unclear if they are the same soldiers – setting up their equipment.
After performing their measurements, the data is relayed to other soldiers who print out a map.
The map is then taken to other soldiers before a mobile short-range ballistic missile system is seen being deployed. It fires its weapon as the footage ends.
It is currently unclear where exactly in Ukraine the images were filmed but the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) said in a short statement obtained on the evening of Monday, 13th June, that the footage shows the “combat work of military topographers of the Western Military District and crews of the Iskander OTRK during a special military operation”.
The Western Military District is one of five military districts of the Russian military, with its scope of activity mainly being in the western central region of European Russia. The Iskander OTRK is a mobile short-range ballistic missile system built and used by Russia.
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 13th June, Russia had lost 32,300 personnel, 1,432 tanks, 3,492 armoured fighting vehicles, 718 artillery systems, 226 multiple launch rocket systems, 97 anti-aircraft systems, 213 warplanes, 178 helicopters, 2,460 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, 13 warships/boats, 585 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; 2000 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.
