These images show a Ukrainian anti-aircraft system taking out a Russian drone at night.
The footage shows a missile shooting from the ground and into the night sky before it explodes upon hitting its target.
The images were obtained from the ‘Centre’ Air Command of the Ukrainian Air Force on Thursday, 6th October, along with a statement saying: “Anti-aircraft fighters of the Air Force are incredible, like all our invincible defenders – they are constantly destroying the ‘second army’ of the world and bringing the long-awaited Victory closer!
“Servicemen of the combat services of the anti-aircraft missile regiment of the ‘Center’ Air Command, who perform combat tasks under the operational control of the ‘South’ and ‘East’ air connections in the southern direction at around 18:00 and 21:00, according to confirmed data, destroyed two enemy UAVs, so far their type is still being determined.
“Glory to the Armed Forces! We protect our native land! We are not tired and we are moving forward! We will win!”
The images and part of the statement were also relayed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Friday, 7th October.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 226th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 7th October, Russia had lost about 61,680 personnel, 2,466 tanks, 5,093 armoured combat vehicles, 1,455 artillery units, 344 multiple launch rocket systems, 177 air defence systems, 266 warplanes, 233 helicopters, 1,067 drones, 246 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 3,862 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 135 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
US President Joe Biden has said that the risk of nuclear “Armageddon” is at its highest level since the Cuban missile crisis in 1962.
President Biden added that Russian President Vladimir Putin was “not joking” regarding the possible use tactical nuclear weapons after the Kremlin’s military forces suffered significant defeats on Ukrainian soil.
President Biden also said that the United States was “trying to figure out” Putin’s way out of the conflict.
Ukrainian forces have recaptured 500 square kilometres of their territory from occupying Russian forces in a week.
The European Union has imposed new sanctions on Russia aimed to expand import and export bans and targeting specific individuals in response to the Kremlin’s attempt to annex four Ukrainian regions.
Two Russian citizens have requested asylum from the United States after being picked up on a small Alaskan island having crossed the Bering Sea in a small boat to avoid conscription, according to the office of Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski.
The Kremlin has denied reports that over 700,000 Russian citizens have fled the country since Putin announced a mobilisation that would see hundreds of thousands of people called up to be sent to fight in Ukraine.
Today, Friday, 7th October, marks Putin’s 70th birthday. Lithuania’s Defence Minister Arvydas Anusauskas has jokingly tweeted: “Today Putin on the occasion of his birthday was given a new table and binoculars for communicating with visitors. Lithuanian people are raising money for some ‘fireworks’.”
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was born on 7th October 1952 in St Petersburg. He worked for the KGB – the main security agency for the Soviet Union – for 16 year, attaining the rank of lieutenant colonel before launching his political career in 1991 in his home city of St Petersburg. He was appointed director of the FSB, the successor to the KGB, in 1998, by Boris Yeltsin, before first becoming the President of Russia in 2000.
(T4/ends)
