This footage shows Ukrainian forces eventually destroying a Russian infantry fighting vehicle and its crew after tracking it with a drone and engaging it in an intense battle.
The images show the Russian amphibious infantry fighting vehicle, a BMP-2M according to the Ukrainian forces, driving down a road with soldiers on top of it.
It then appears to follow a second Russian military vehicle through an urban area before it comes to a stop at a crossroads.
The Russian war machine can then be seen being hit by Ukrainian ordnance. It does not appear to have been disabled by the Ukrainian firepower at first, as it is then seen opening fire on unseen Ukrainian positions using its gun.
The footage shows a second explosion occurring right next to it but this also fails to take it out. The Russian infantry fighting vehicle continues to open fire on unseen targets as the smoke from the second explosion clears.
The images then cut to the vehicle being filmed from above by a drone that drops a bomb on it. It appears to have little effect but two more bombs explode right on top of it and cause smoke to begin emanating from inside the vehicle.
A soldier can be seen poking his head out of the hatch and putting a cover over it. The Russian infantry fighting vehicle continues to open fire through large plumes of smoke.
But the images then appear to show the Russian military vehicle on fire and burning before it is seen completely destroyed after having been apparently hit by further Ukrainian firepower.
The images were obtained from the Office of Strategic Communications (StratCom) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Sunday, ninth October, along with a statement saying that the images show the “destruction of a Katsap BMP-2m ‘Berezhok’.”
‘Katsap’ is a derogatory Ukrainian term for a Russian.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 229th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 10th October, Russia had lost about 62,870 personnel, 2,495 tanks, 5,149 armoured combat vehicles, 1,486 artillery units, 353 multiple launch rocket systems, 181 air defence systems, 267 warplanes, 235 helicopters, 1,097 drones, 249 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 3,908 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 136 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has labelled the explosion on the Kerch Bridge linking Russia-occupied Crimea to mainland Russia on Saturday, 8th October, an “act of terror” and has directly blamed Ukraine for the attack.
Putin said on Sunday evening that the attack had been carried out by the “Ukrainian secret services”, adding: “There is no doubt. This is an act of terrorism aimed at destroying critically important civilian infrastructure.”
Ukraine has not yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
Sergei Aksyonov, Moscow’s governor in Crimea – which Russia annexed in 2014 – said: “Of course, emotions have been triggered and there is a healthy desire to seek revenge.”
The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, has said that Putin will convene the country’s National Security Council today, Monday, to discuss the explosion on the Kerch Bridge.
Russian shelling in Zaporizhzhia left at least 14 people dead on Sunday morning.
The attack hit civilian infrastructure including a nine-storey building, with the Ukrainian Regional Governor, Oleksandr Starukh, saying that more people could still be trapped under the rubble.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that debris was still being cleared. He added: “More than 70 people were injured, including 11 children.”
Russia has named Air Force General Sergei Surovikin as the commander of its forces fighting in Ukraine, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence.
The move comes after Russia dismissed two of the commanders of its five military regions days earlier following significant reversals in eastern and southern Ukraine.
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) said in a statement on Sunday that since the beginning of October, Ukrainian forces have been considerably increased their shelling of territories currently held by Russia.
