This is the moment Ukrainian anti-aircraft guns shoot down Russian Kh-59 missiles.
The footage shows the Ukrainian air defence systems in action, firing a defence missile into the sky that intercepts its target before the images cut to a second Ukrainian defence missile being shot into the sky to intercept another Russian missile.
The images were obtained from the Commander of the Air Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant General Mykola Oleshchuk, on Monday, 30th October, along with a statement saying: “The video shows the combat work of anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Command ‘East’ on 30th October, 2023.
“Two Kh-59 guided air missiles were shot down.
“Thanks to everyone who ensured a 100 per cent hit on air targets tonight.
“Together to victory!”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 615th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 31st October 2023, Russia had lost about 300,810 personnel, 5,211 tanks, 9,804 armoured combat vehicles, 7,227 artillery units, 844 multiple launch rocket systems, 562 air defence systems, 321 warplanes, 324 helicopters, 5,440 drones, 1,546 cruise missiles, 20 warships, 1 submarine, 9,590 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 1,016 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
The White House has accused House Republicans of “politicising national security” after they introduced a bill to separate aid to Israel from assistance to Ukraine and proposed to fund the aid to Israel by cutting funding to the Internal Revenue Service.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Monday, 30th October: “Politicising our national security interests is a nonstarter.
“Demanding offsets for meeting core national security needs of the United States – like supporting Israel and defending Ukraine from atrocities and Russian imperialism – would be a break with the normal, bipartisan process and could have devastating implications for our safety and alliances in the years ahead.”
Dmytro Kuleba, the Ukrainian Foreign Minister, said on Monday that he was confident that the US House of Representatives would support a request for an additional financial support for Ukraine’s military.
He added that he was aware of the considerable political resistance” to the bill.
Last week, US House Speaker Mike Johnson said that funding for Ukraine and Israel should be separate, suggesting that he would not back a USD 106 billion aid package for both countries set out by US President Joe Biden.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has claimed, without providing evidence, that Ukrainian agents and Western spy agencies were behind a rampage seen at an airport in the primarily Muslim region of Dagestan that targeted a flight from Tel Aviv.
Local security forces moved in to bring order after people started looking for Jewish passengers arriving from Israel in what has been described as an anti-Semitic riot.
US National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said that Putin’s claim was “classic Russian rhetoric”. He added that “the West had nothing to do with this”.
Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said on Monday that the first US-made F-16 combat aircraft that his country is donating to Ukraine will arrive at Romanian training centres within the next two weeks.
