These images show a Ukrainian special forces sniper taking out a Russian soldier from a distance of over 1.2 miles.
The footage, a montage showing a number of accurate shots carried out by Ukrainian snipers on the frontlines, shows most of the shots being taken at night, with one of them, towards the end, being fired from over 1.2 miles away.
The images were obtained from the Command of the Special Operations Forces (SSO) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Wednesday, 12th July, along with a statement saying: “Accurate work of SSO snipers at long distances.
“In the video – enemy damage at distances from 715 to 2,062 metres [0.44 to 1.28 miles].
“We work day and night, bringing Victory closer!”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 505th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 13th July 2023, Russia had lost about 236,040 personnel, 4,092 tanks, 7,999 armoured combat vehicles, 4,425 artillery units, 678 multiple launch rocket systems, 421 air defence systems, 315 warplanes, 310 helicopters, 3,752 drones, 1,271 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 6,995 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 652 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
A NATO summit in Vilnius concluded on Wednesday with US President Joe Biden saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin was “craven” and promising Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky full support.
This is despite NATO not inviting Ukraine into the alliance for the time being. Biden also said that Putin had sorely underestimated the alliance’s resolve.
Zelensky said: “This is very important. For the first time since our independence, we have established a foundation of security for Ukraine on its path to NATO.”
He added: “These are concrete security guarantees confirmed by the world’s top seven democracies. Never before have we had such a security base and it is at the level of the G7.”
The Ukrainian president also said: “We have removed any doubts or ambiguity about whether Ukraine will be in NATO. It will be.”
British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said that “people want to see a bit of gratitude” and Ukraine should put greater emphasis on thanking its Western allies for their assistance, when asked about President Zelensky’s complaint on Tuesday that his country had not been provided with a timetable for joining the alliance.
But UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak distanced himself from his Defence Secretary’s comments, saying that Zelensky had expressed its gratitude to the United Kingdom for its support.
Zelensky, meanwhile, said that he did not understand Wallace’s comments.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said that Sweden’s accession to NATO would not be put before the Turkish parliament until autumn when it reopens.
