Russia has said that it hit a Ukrainian command post with an Iskander missile.
The footage purports to show camo netting being removed from the missile system in a forested area before it can be seen manoeuvring into position after driving down a dirt track.
It can then be seen deploying its missile before firing it into the sky.
The Russian war machine can then be seen closing its missile bay before manoeuvring away to avoid return fire.
The images then show Russian soldiers carefully placing camo netting over the vehicle in a forested area to hide it from view.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence on Monday, 11th September, along with a statement claiming: “An Iskander tactical missile system (OTRK) crew of the Western Military District struck an enemy command post.
“During the special military operation, a crew of an Iskander tactical missile system (OTRK) of the Western Military District launched an attack on a carefully camouflaged command post of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. After launching the guided missile, the military personnel rapidly changed their launch position.
“The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to strike at the infrastructure targets of the Ukrainian armed forces using precision missile weaponry. Specifically, to carry out such tasks, the Iskander OTRK divisions of the Western Military District are on duty around the clock.”
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 565th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 11th September 2023, Russia had lost about 269,210 personnel, 4,560 tanks, 8,767 armoured combat vehicles, 5,839 artillery units, 760 multiple launch rocket systems, 512 air defence systems, 315 warplanes, 316 helicopters, 4,628 drones, 1,455 cruise missiles, 19 warships, 8,370 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 877 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Victoria Nuland, US Deputy Secretary of State, has said that Washington is “impressed” by Ukraine’s counteroffensive.
She also said that Russia’s defences were some of the biggest in a century, adding: “We need to understand what Ukraine needs to clear these defences, and we cannot do that until Ukraine confronts the defences.
“We got a good sense of what was needed when we were here.”
Nuland also said: “If Ukraine does not win, if Putin succeeds, this type of evil will be normalised across the world. Ukraine stands on the right side of democracy and needs our support.”
General Mark Milley, the head of the American military, has said that Ukraine most likely has about “30 to 45 days worth of fighting weather left” for its summer offensive.
He said: “That offensive kicked off about 90 days ago. It has gone slower than the planners anticipated. But that is a difference between what Clausewitz called war on paper and real war.
“So these are real people in real vehicles that are fighting through real minefields, and there’s real death and destruction, and there’s real friction.”
Rustem Umerov, who has been nominated as the new Defence Minister of Ukraine, has said that his country’s allies need to increase heavy weapons deliveries, saying: “We are grateful for all the support provided… we need more heavy weapons.”
Ukrainian citizens in the occupied areas have reportedly alleged that Russian election officials have been going house to house with armed soldiers to arrest people who refuse to take part in illegitimate elections held by Moscow.
Russia has claimed that there have been efforts to sabotage said elections, with a drone strike reportedly destroying at least one polling station before it could open on Sunday.
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the President of Brazil, has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin can attend next year’s G20 summit in Rio de Janeiro without fear of being arrested.
Putin has been charged with war crimes by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.
Brazil is a member of the ICC but Lula da Silva said: “What I can tell you is that, if I’m Brazil’s president, and if he comes to Brazil, there’s no reason he’ll be arrested.”
Romania has summoned the head of Russia’s diplomatic mission to Bucharest over a second lot of fragments that have been discovered and that apparently come from a drone that was used by Russia in an attack on Ukraine.
