These images show how Ukrainian assault troops reportedly destroyed a whole group of Russian self-propelled guns thanks to M777 howitzers supplied by the United States.
The images appear to show destroyed Russian military vehicles after Ukrainian forces took them out.
The footage was obtained from the Command of the Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Wednesday, 29th June, along with a short statement, saying: “Artillerymen of the 81st Brigade of the DShV [the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces] and the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine inflicted a devastating defeat and destroyed a group of 2S3 ‘Akatsiyas’ of the Russian occupiers.”
The Akatsiya is a Soviet-era self-propelled gun that was first developed in 1968.
The Command of the Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine added: “In one of the areas of combat operations, units from the 81st Brigade of the DShV and the Land Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, using 155-mm M777 howitzers, destroyed a group of enemy self-propelled 2S3 ‘Akatsiya’ howitzers.
“The hunt continues! Death to the Russian occupiers! DShV – Always First! Glory to Ukraine!”
The US has supplied Ukraine with a large number of M777 howitzers.
The information was also relayed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 126th day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 29th June, Russia had lost about 35,450 personnel, 1,572 tanks, 3,720 armoured combat vehicles, 781 artillery units, 246 multiple launch rocket systems, 103 air defence systems, 217 warplanes, 185 helicopters, 640 drones, 142 cruise missiles, 14 warships, 2,598 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 61 units of special equipment.
Turkey has agreed to support Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership after having initially opposed the countries’ bids to join the military alliance.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had met with Finland’s President Sauli Niinisto and Swedish Prime Minister Magdalena Andersson at the NATO summit in Madrid.
Jens Stoltenberg, the NATO Secretary General, said: “I am pleased to announce that we now have an agreement that paves the way for Finland and Sweden to join NATO.”
US President Joe Biden congratulated the three countries, saying: “Congratulations to Finland, Sweden, and Turkey on signing a trilateral memorandum – a crucial step towards a NATO invite to Finland and Sweden, which will strengthen our Alliance and bolster our collective security – and a great way to begin the Summit.”
The Russian bombing on a shopping mall in the central Ukrainian city of Kremenchuk has been described by President Zelenskyy as one of the “most brazen terrorist acts in European history”. Over 1,000 people are said to have been inside the building when it was hit by missiles.
The death toll has risen to 18 people confirmed dead, with another 59 injured and 25 being treated in hospital. Some 36 people are still unaccounted for.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged the United Nations to visit the site and has demanded that Russia be expelled as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, accusing the country of having become a “terrorist state”.
Russia claimed on Tuesday that it had hit a nearby weapons depot, with the explosion sparking the shopping mall blaze.
NATO is planning to boost its quick reaction forces from 40,000 troops to over 300,000 troops.
