Russia has said that it has fired rockets at Ukrainian military positions near Bakhmut.
The footage shows a Russian soldier getting into a multiple launch rocket system vehicle hidden inside a building before the images cut to it firing a salvo of rockets at unseen targets.
The images then cut to a number of explosions, apparently on the Ukrainian positions.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday, 13th December, along with a statement claiming: “The crew of the Grad self-propelled multiple launch rocket system of the Southern Group of Forces delivers a fire strike to the enemy in the Artemovsk [Bakhmut] direction.”
Russian MoD Claims Forces Are Wiping Out Western-Supplied Arms
The Russian MoD added: “One hundred and twenty-two-millimetre rockets destroy strongholds, areas of concentration of forces, artillery batteries and columns of Ukrainian Armed Forces equipment.
“Artillerymen work closely with reconnaissance units. Scouts not only detect targets, but also conduct reconnaissance of positions for combat vehicles and adjust the accuracy of fire.
“Military personnel note that in the last few weeks the intensity of return fire from the enemy has significantly decreased, and the number of unmanned aerial vehicles in the air has also decreased, which may indicate a shortage of them among the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
“After each shooting, the vehicle goes to cover to reload and prepares to deliver new strikes.”
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 658th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 13th December 2023, Russia had lost about 341,550 personnel, 5,682 tanks, 10,594 armoured combat vehicles, 8,076 artillery units, 919 multiple launch rocket systems, 605 air defence systems, 324 warplanes, 324 helicopters, 6,173 drones, 1,596 cruise missiles, 22 warships, 1 submarine, 10,662 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 1,176 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Russian missiles have hit Ukraine’s capital Kyiv today, on Wednesday, 13th December, with at least 45 people injured and several buildings damaged.
Launcher Pummels Ammo Dumps And Strongholds, Claims MoD
Vitali Klitschko, the Mayor of Kyiv, said that debris from interceptor missiles fell in the eastern Dniprovskyi district, leaving at least 45 people injured.
US President Joe Biden has warned Republicans that they will be giving Russia a “Christmas gift” if they fail to provide additional military aid to Ukraine.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky faced a sceptical reception from key Republican lawmakers. After travelling to Washington in an attempt to convince US lawmakers to provide more aid to Ukraine.
Biden said: “I will not walk away from Ukraine, and neither will the American people.”
A declassified US intelligence report has assessed that Russia’s war in Ukraine has cost Moscow 315,000 soldiers dead or injured. Which represents 90 per cent of the personnel it had when the conflict began.
Poland’s newly appointed Prime Minister Donald Tusk said: “We will demand full mobilisation of the West to help Ukraine. I can no longer listen to politicians who talk about being tired of the situation in Ukraine.”
Russian-backed authorities been southern Ukraine have claimed that Russian forces have “advanced considerably” around the village of Novopokrovka in the Zaporizhzhia region.
A survey by the European Council on Foreign Relations has suggested that Europeans are generally in favour of the idea of Ukraine joining the European Union.
Most respondents were lukewarm about admitting Georgia to the union, with most against the bid in Turkey.
