Russia has said that it fired at Ukrainian military positions in Kherson using BM-21 Grad multiple launch rocket systems.
The footage purports to show one of the Russian war machines manoeuvring into position before it can be seen opening fire on unseen targets.
The images then cut to what appears to be an explosion before the footage ends.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Tuesday, 5th December, along with a statement claiming: “Crews of the BM-21 Grad MLRS in the Kherson direction struck a concentration of manpower and equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the right bank of the Dnipro.”
The Russian MoD added: “The Grad MLRS crew receives target coordinates from reconnaissance and moves to a firing position. This time, aerial reconnaissance using unmanned aerial vehicles on the right bank of the Dnipro and at the crossing identified concentrations of enemy manpower.
“After the crew of the combat vehicle moved into position and aimed the Grad MLRS at the target, the crew carried out a sighting launch of 122-mm shells, and after receiving corrections from the artillery control point and introducing amendments, it completed the firing of the ammunition at the given coordinates.”
The statement quotes a crew number of the MLRS ‘Grad’ with the call sign ‘Crimea’ as saying: “Basically, only NATO weapons remain. We get there. We destroy. So that there is less of it left. So that it doesn’t exist at all. M777, three axes. We often have to deal with these weapons. We hit, we destroy.”
The statement also said: “According to the results of objective control received from the reconnaissance unit’s aircraft controllers, all intended targets were hit.
“The BM-21 Grad MLRS is designed to destroy manpower, unarmored vehicles and armoured personnel carriers in a concentration area, artillery and mortar batteries, command posts and other targets in various combat conditions at a distance of over 20 kilometres.”
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 650th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 5th December 2023, Russia had lost about 333,840 personnel, 5,587 tanks, 10,416 armoured combat vehicles, 7,987 artillery units, 913 multiple launch rocket systems, 605 air defence systems, 323 warplanes, 324 helicopters, 6,032 drones, 1,570 cruise missiles, 22 warships, 1 submarine, 10,483 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 1,148 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 said that it is “out of money and nearly out of time” regarding providing more weapons to Ukraine unless Congress approves additional funding.
Shalanda Young, US President Joe Biden’s budget director, wrote in a letter to Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson that failing to continue to assist Ukraine militarily would “kneecap” the country’s ability to fight Russia’s invasion.
She said: “Cutting off the flow of US weapons and equipment will kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield, not only putting at risk the gains Ukraine has made, but increasing the likelihood of Russian military victories.”
Johnson said that the Biden administration had “failed to substantively address any of my conference’s legitimate concerns about the lack of a clear strategy in Ukraine.”
He also reiterated the insistence of Republicans on tying any aid for Ukraine to changes in US policy regarding the country’s southern border with Mexico.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has demanded that a summit of European Union leaders next week not make a decision on approving membership talks to begin over Ukraine.
Russia’s Voronezh Governor Alexander Gusev has said that a Russian general died while deployed in Ukraine.
He said: “Major General Vladimir Zavadsky, deputy commander of the 14th Army Corps of the Northern Fleet, died in the line of duty in a special operation zone.”
Viktoria Kireyeva, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources, said on the sidelines of the COP28 climate conference in Dubai that Russia’s war in Ukraine accounts for approximately 150 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
She said: “The war has a devastating impact on the environment. Air, soil and water is polluted as a result of the fighting.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he regrets deteriorating ties with Western countries.
Putin made the comments while accepting the credentials of about two dozen new ambassadors at the Kremlin.
Speaking to the ambassador of the United Kingdom, he said: “In the postwar [post-World War II] period and until recently, our countries were able to build relations.
“But the current state of things … is well known and we should hope that the situation – in the interest of our countries and nations – will change for the better.”
Russian forces are attacking the eastern Ukrainian town of Avdiivka from two new directions, Ukrainian officials said on Monday.
