These images show Ukrainian kamikaze drones hunting down Russian targets on the battlefield and hitting them.
The footage shows a first drone hitting a Russian military vehicle and exploding, causing it to catch fire.
The video then shows at least two Russian soldiers next to a military vehicle before a Ukrainian drone hones in on it and hits it.
The images were obtained from the 72nd Mechanized Brigade named after the Black Zaporozhians of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Monday, 27th November, along with a statement saying: “The size of the target is not important – the main thing is that it burns!”
The images were also relayed by the Office of Strategic Communications (StratCom) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Tuesday, 28th November, along with a statement saying: “Aerial scouts of the 72nd OMBr named after Black Zaporozhians successfully use kamikaze drones against enemy targets.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 643rd day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 28th November 2023, Russia had lost about 326,440 personnel, 5,523 tanks, 10,285 armoured combat vehicles, 7,876 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, 10,302 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.
Snow, flooding and hurricane-force winds have hit southern Russia and the occupied Ukrainian territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson and Crimea.
At least five people have died and nearly 1,500 towns and villages have suffered power cuts and up to 10 inches of snow in some locations.
Russia’s energy ministry has said that 1.9 million people have been affected by power cuts.
There are reportedly hopes that the severe weather could set back the Russian war effort.
Vitaliy Barabash, the head of Ukraine’s military administration in Avdiivka, has said that Russian forces are increasing their attempts to capture the city and trying to advance on all sides.
He said: “The Russians have opened up two more sectors from which they have begun making assaults – in the direction of Donetsk … and in the so-called industrial zone. The enemy is attempting to storm the city from all directions.”
The UK Ministry of Defence has said that Ukrainian estimates of Russian casualties are “plausible”.
With a daily average of nearly 1,000 Russian forces reported by Ukraine as killed or injured in November, this would make the month one of the deadliest for Russian forces.
Many of their losses stem from their attempts to take Avdiivka.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is attending a NATO session in Brussels today, Tuesday, and Wednesday.
The event includes the first meeting of foreign ministers of the NATO-Ukraine Council, which was created to improve cooperation and coordination and to help prepare Ukraine for becoming a member of the Western alliance.
Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary-General of NATO, has said that Ukraine will become a member of NATO after the war, subject to reforms.
He added that NATO members still agree that full membership is impossible while the war with Russia is ongoing but efforts are ongoing to move Ukraine and NATO closer together.
Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, has said that he plans to travel to NATO member North Macedonia this week for a conference of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which includes 57 members including Russia.
NATO member Bulgaria has said that it has given Lavrov permission to fly through its airspace.
Lavrov, responding to remarks by the US Secretary of Defence last week that Russian President Vladimir Putin would not stop at Ukraine if Russia is victorious there, has insisted that Moscow does not have plans to expand its territory farther into Europe.
