Russia has said that it is firing rockets full of propaganda leaflets – featuring the Leopard 2, Challenger 2, and M1 Abrams tanks – at Ukrainian positions telling them to surrender.
The footage shows Russian soldiers preparing the leaflets, which can be seen featuring the German-made Leopard 2 tank, the British-made Challenger 2 tank, and the American-made M1 Abrams tank.
The leaflets are then rolled up and placed inside what appears to be a nosecone.
The footage then cuts to a Russian ‘Grad’ MLRS apparently firing the “propaganda shells” at Ukrainian positions.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Friday, 21st July, along with a statement claiming: “Artillerymen of the Central Military District carried out a listing of the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the zone of the Northern Military District.”
The Russian MoD added: “Soldiers of artillery crews of BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket systems of the Central Military District (TsVO) carried out a listing of enemy positions using 122-mm propaganda shells in the Krasnolimansky direction.
“Special campaign projectiles for the BM-21 are reactive munitions, which are loaded with rolls of more than 1,000 leaflets instead of submunitions and explosives. Each such leaflet contains an appeal to the military personnel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to voluntarily lay down their arms and surrender them, which will subsequently save their lives and prevent senseless bloodshed in further battles.
“To sweep enemy territory, the ammo fuse timers are set to varying trigger times, which are calculated based on the distance to the target. After the projectile breaks, the leaflets are scattered over an area of more than 1 square kilometre, and a specially designed form forces the enemy personnel to look and read them.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 513th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 21st July 2023, Russia had lost about 240,690 personnel, 4,133 tanks, 8,080 armoured combat vehicles, 4,610 artillery units, 692 multiple launch rocket systems, 440 air defence systems, 315 warplanes, 310 helicopters, 3,933 drones, 1,298 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 7,145 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 686 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
White House national security spokesperson John Kirby has said that Ukraine has begun using controversial cluster bombs supplied by the US and that they are doing so “quite effectively”.
Ukraine has warned that it may begin targeting shipping from Russian and Russian-occupied ports.
It also indicated that it was ready to fight on the Black Sea, after Russia declared a naval blockade and the bombardment of Ukrainian ports.
The moves come after Moscow pulled out of the Black Sea grain export deal on Monday.
Wheat prices are reportedly continuing to climb on global markets after Russia withdrew from the grain deal. Wheat was trading almost 1.5 per cent higher on the Chicago Board of Trade exchange on Thursday morning.
This comes after wheat rose over 8 per cent on Wednesday.
The United Nations Security Council is reportedly set to meet today, Friday, to discuss the “humanitarian consequences” of Moscow’s withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal.
European Union foreign ministers have discussed a proposal for a EUR 20 billion (GBP 17.2 billion) fund to pay for weaponry, military aid and ammunition for Ukraine over the next four years.
The EU also said that it was extending sanctions against Russia for another six months, until the end of January next year.
