Russia has claimed that its paratroopers have destroyed Ukrainian artillery on the right bank of the Dnipro River.
The footage reportedly shows Ukrainian artillery being hit by Russian ordnance and exploding.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Monday, 4th December, along with a statement claiming: “Russian paratroopers destroyed artillery of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the right bank of the Dnipro.”
The Russian MoD added: “In the Kherson region, crews of reconnaissance drones discovered enemy self-propelled and cannon artillery, which was shelling civilians, as well as communication stations with the help of which Ukrainian units were controlled.
“To destroy them, it was decided to use Lancet loitering munitions, which are launched by crews of unmanned aircraft of the ‘winged infantry’.
“UAV operators destroyed two self-propelled artillery units and one Western-made howitzer with crews and full ammunition, as well as a camouflaged communications station.”
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 649th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 4th December 2023, Russia had lost about 332,810 personnel, 5,580 tanks, 10,401 armoured combat vehicles, 7,961 artillery units, 913 multiple launch rocket systems, 602 air defence systems, 323 warplanes, 324 helicopters, 6,017 drones, 1,569 cruise missiles, 22 warships, 1 submarine, 10,451 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 1,141 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukraine has launched an inquiry after two of its soldiers were reportedly filmed being shot dead by Russian troops as they tried to surrender near the town of Avdiivka.
Russia has been trying to take the town for two months and has made little progress despite losing large numbers of infantry and armoured vehicles.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that there are “intense battles” at dozens of locations on the frontlines, including in the eastern towns of Maryinka, Avdiivka and Bakhmut, as well as in the Kharkiv region and in Kherson, in southern Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Air Force said today, on Monday, 4th December, that Russia had fired 23 drones and a cruise missile at Ukraine overnight.
Ukraine’s Air Force added that 18 of the drones and the missile were shot down.
The authoritarian President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has praised his country’s “reliable” friendship with China during talks with his counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing.
British Foreign Secretary David Cameron will travel to Washington DC on Wednesday for his first visit to the US in his new role.
He is expected to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and discuss support for Ukraine, according to the UK Foreign Office.
The Ukrainian authorities said on Sunday that Ukraine and Poland will open an additional border crossing for trucks to reach Kyiv after other crossings were blocked for weeks by protesting Polish drivers.
