These images show Ukrainian forces using an American HIMARS system to destroy a Russian self-propelled gun in southern Ukraine.
The images show the Russian war machine hidden among some trees when it is suddenly hit, causing a large explosion.
The vehicle can be seen erupting into a huge fireball and burning to a crisp.
The images were obtained from the Office of Strategic Communications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Sunday, 26th November, along with a statement saying: “On the left bank of the Kherson Region, the Defence Forces of Southern Ukraine hit the enemy 2C3 self-propelled guns with the help of Himars.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 642nd day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 27th November 2023, Russia had lost about 325,580 personnel, 5,520 tanks, 10,282 armoured combat vehicles, 7,875 artillery units, 907 multiple launch rocket systems, 597 air defence systems, 323 warplanes, 324 helicopters, 5,905 drones, 1,565 cruise missiles, 22 warships, 1 submarine, 10,299 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 1,113 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
The British Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said that Russia is having to move air defence systems from Kaliningrad, its enclave on the Baltic Sea, to replace units lost in its invasion of Ukraine.
The UK MoD added: “This follows an uptick in losses of SA-21 air defence systems in Russian-occupied Ukraine in late October 2023.”
The MoD said that the move showed that Russia was so overstretched in Ukraine that it was having to accept additional risk to Kaliningrad, which is strategically important to Moscow and is bordered on three sides by NATO members.
Russia sent waves of kamikaze drones into Ukraine on Saturday in what the Ukrainian authorities said was the most intensive drone attack since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.
It has been reported that 24 drones attacked the Moscow region and three other provinces, with two Ukrainian missiles launched over the Azov Sea.
Russian forces are continuing their attempt to advance near Avdiivka, with the Ukrainian forces repelling their attacks.
The Ukrainian General Staff said that Russia had carried out air strikes in support of its ground operations in a bid to encircle the city.
Volodymyr Fitio, a spokesperson for the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, has said that Russian forces are attempting to reoccupy the town of Kupiansk, in the Kharkiv region, saying: “The enemy intends to advance to the settlement of Sinkivka in order to develop their further success in the offensive on Kupiansk.”
Oleksandr Kamyshin, the Minister of Strategic Industries, which is the ministry in charge of Ukraine’s arms industry, has called for his country to become the “arsenal of the free world” and provide weapons for export.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said at the Grain from Ukraine summit on food security in Kyiv that his country needs more air defences to protect grain export routes.
Over 2,000 vehicles are unable to get into Ukraine because of a Polish blockade, with Ukraine’s infrastructure ministry saying that the flow of vehicles at the Dorohusk-Yahodyn crossing, which usually reaches nearly 700 vehicles every 24 hours, is down to a few dozen every day.
