This is the moment a kamikaze drone apparently drops directly onto the head of a Russian soldier as he shoots at Ukrainian positions.
The images open with a number of Russian soldiers clearly visibly inside the trench, which is apparently located in an open field near the hotly-contested city of Bakhmut.
After the drone is seen hurtling towards its target, it appears to drop directly onto the head of one of the men in the trench.
A puff of smoke is then seen as the enemy soldier is apparently eliminated.
The images were obtained on 14th June from FATUM, which wrote: “Clear hit of an FPV (first person view) kamikaze on the enemy’s concealed bunker. Fatum is operational.”
The images were reposted today (16th June) by the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade “Azov” of the Ukrainian Ground Forces, which said: “We are attacking the occupiers with an FPV drone.
“Direct hits on enemy trenches near Bakhmut. The reconnaissance-strike soldiers of the 3rd Assault Brigade – unit ‘FATUM’ are operating.”
The 3rd Separate Assault Brigade “Azov” was established in November 2022 from the Azov Special Operations Forces and initially comprised veterans of the Azov Regiment.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 478th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 15th June 2023, Russia had lost about 218,500 personnel, 3,965 tanks, 7,683 armoured combat vehicles, 3,812 artillery units, 606 multiple launch rocket systems, 364 air defence systems, 314 warplanes, 301 helicopters, 3,357 drones, 1,199 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 6,519 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 519 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukrainian General Staff spokesman Oleksandr Shtupun has reported that Ukrainian forces conducted successful operations north and north-west of Bakhmut, with more than 30 clashes taking place on 15th June.
Ukrainian Ground Forces commander Oleksandr Syrskyi has said that Russia is continuing to move its most capable units towards Bakhmut and is conducting air strikes on Ukrainian positions.
According to Syrskyi, Ukrainian troops are continuing to carry out offensives in order to gradually displace the Russian army from in and around the city.
According to the Deputy Chief of Ukraine’s General Staff, Oleksii Hromov, there are no signs of Russia preparing for another large-scale mobilisation.
Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Maliar said on 14th June that the Ukrainian army is suffering fewer losses than Russia, “despite the fake news spread by the Russians suggesting otherwise”.
According to a statement from Ukraine’s National Resistance Centre, 150 children have been illegally taken from Luhansk Oblast to Prikubansky District, southern Russia.
At least 19,393 children are known to have been illegally taken to Russia since the start of the invasion.
