Russia has said that its self-propelled artillery has destroyed Ukrainian positions in Bakhmut.
The footage reportedly shows a 2S9 ‘Nona’ manoeuvring into position before repeatedly opening fire on unseen targets.
The footage then cuts to what appears to be drone images purporting to show the Russian ordnance hitting Ukrainian positions.
The Russian war machine can then be seen manoeuvring away to avoid return fire as the footage ends.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday, 19th October, along with a statement claiming: “Artillery units of the Airborne Forces are conducting combat work to destroy manpower and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Artemovsk [Bakhmut] direction.”
The Russian MoD added: “The Russian Ministry of Defense publishes footage of the combat work of artillery units of the Airborne Forces in the zone of the special military operation.
“Artillery units of 120-mm self-propelled guns 2S9 ‘Nona’ of the Tula paratroopers are constantly conducting combat work to destroy manpower and military equipment of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the Artemovsk [Bakhmut] direction in the Kleshcheevka area.
“During reconnaissance and search operations, reconnaissance paratroopers discovered a platoon stronghold with Ukrainian nationalists holed up in it. The coordinates of the enemy positions were immediately transmitted to the artillery control point for their destruction.
“The crews of the Nona self-propelled guns marched to the firing positions and, after taking aim, hit strong points and destroyed the manpower of the Ukrainian militants who had settled in them.
“The artillerymen of the ‘winged infantry’ act professionally, decisively and harmoniously, showing courage and bravery. Having destroyed the identified objects of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the crews change positions to perform new tasks.
“Reconnaissance of targets, adjustment of fire and objective control of hitting targets with guns were carried out using unmanned aerial vehicles.”
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 603rd day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 19th October 2023, Russia had lost about 290,680 personnel, 4,992 tanks, 9,437 armoured combat vehicles, 6,983 artillery units, 818 multiple launch rocket systems, 548 air defence systems, 320 warplanes, 324 helicopters, 5,318 drones, 1,534 cruise missiles, 20 warships, 1 submarine, 9,337 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 985 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that the US delivery of ATACMS long-range tactical ballistic missiles to Ukraine was “another mistake by the United States”.
Putin made the comments while speaking publicly for the first time since Ukrainian forces took out helicopters at two Russian airfields earlier this week.
Putin also claimed that delivering the missiles to Ukraine would simply “prolong [Ukraine’s] agony”.
Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday that photographs showing Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban shaking hands with Putin on Tuesday were “very, very unpleasant” and defied logic considering the country’s past with Russia.
Orban reportedly told Putin he never wanted to oppose Moscow and was trying to salvage bilateral relations.
Ukrainian officials have said that Russian attacks on the country in the past two days have killed at least 10 civilians in Ukraine and damaged Kharkiv’s power grid.
Gen Oleksandr Tarnavskyi, who is in charge of Ukraine’s military operations in the south of the country, has said that Ukrainian forces had had “partial success to the south of Robotyne.”
