These images show Ukrainian mortars decimating a Russian assault group in Avdiivka in what Ukrainian forces said was a matter of minutes.
The images show the Russian forces being hit by Ukrainian ordnance in a treeline.
The images were obtained from the National Guard of Ukraine on Thursday, 30th November, along with a statement saying: “Two mortar hits stopped the advance of the assault group
“In the Avdiivka direction, Lviv National Guardsmen destroyed the enemy assault group in a few minutes.
“With the help of a thermal imaging drone, at night, aerial scouts spotted the enemy advancing towards the positions of the Ukrainian military. The coordinates were immediately given to the soldiers of the Lviv unit of the National Guard.
“The video clearly shows the occupiers who stopped moving after the first hit of the mortar round. Those who tried to escape were neutralized by a second shot. Minus 18 enemy stormtroopers in the treasury of our victory.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 645th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 30th November 2023, Russia had lost about 328,760 personnel, 5,551 tanks, 10,340 armoured combat vehicles, 7,909 artillery units, 910 multiple launch rocket systems, 600 air defence systems, 323 warplanes, 324 helicopters, 5,954 drones, 1,567 cruise missiles, 22 warships, 1 submarine, 10,361 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 1,124 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukraine has said that it has killed five high-ranking Russian officials in a strike in an occupied part of Kherson in southern Ukraine.
The Ukrainian Armed Forces said that the strikes had targeted the officials at a meeting in the village of Yuvileyne thanks to “information provided by the underground and concerned local residents”.
Ukraine has said that its air defences shot down all 21 Russian drones launched at the western Khmelnytskyi region overnight on Tuesday.
Khmelnytskyi is home to a Ukrainian air base.
Ukrainian military spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun has said that Russia is increasing its attacks in eastern Ukraine.
He said that Russia had “doubled its artillery fire and airstrikes” and “intensified ground infantry attacks”.
Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary-General of NATO, has warned that the alliance must not underestimate Russia’s ability to continue fighting its war in Ukraine.
He said: “Russia’s economy is on a war footing, Putin has a high tolerance for casualties, and Russian aims in Ukraine have not changed.”
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Dmytro Kuleba, has said that the European Union has so far delivered about 300,000 of the one million that it has promised.
He said that Ukraine’s war effort meant that Ukrainian and NATO arms production needed to be more aligned and that there was a need to create a “Euro-Atlantic common area” of defence industries.
Kuleba also said that he had seen no sign that Ukraine’s NATO allies were suffering from fatigue over providing it with support.
He said: “I heard a clear ‘No’ to any reference to fatigue, and I heard [a] clear ‘Yes’ to increased support to Ukraine.”
He added: “They understand that in order for them to feel safe, in order for them not to end up in a situation where NATO’s soldiers will have to fight, Ukraine has to win in this war.”
