Ukraine has shared footage showing its military targeting and destroying Russian equipment in eastern Ukraine as the country’s long-awaited counter-offensive accelerates.
Ukraine’s Armed Forces General Staff said on Saturday that Ukraine’s “White Wolves”, a unit of the country’s security service, have been involved in targeting Russian positions, driving Russian forces underground in the country’s east. The footage appears to have been filmed by drones, and the military said it destroyed seven Russian tanks and 15 bunkers in the space of a week.
Newsweek He was unable to independently verify this footage, and has contacted the Russian Ministry of Defense for comment.
Ukraine frequently shares battle footage of destroyed Russian military equipment, including that attributed to the “White Wolves” unit.
On Saturday, Ukrainian media published footage of what it said showed the destruction of a convoy of Russian military vehicles in the Zaporizhia region of southern Ukraine, which Russia annexed. Most of the international community does not recognize Russian control of the region.
“A convoy of military vehicles from the 83rd Brigade of the Airborne Forces came under fire from Ukrainian artillery.” Ukraineska Pravda reported on Saturday, Sharing snapshots.
Warning: The video contains graphic content that some viewers may find disturbing.
This comes as the Ukrainian leadership acknowledges that the long-awaited Kiev counter-offensive has begun.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said on Saturday that Kiev’s army had begun “counter-offensive and defensive operations”, without providing further details. He told the media that Ukraine’s leaders were “all in a positive mood,” adding, “Pass this on to Putin.”
“It can be said with certainty that this offensive has begun,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday. He added, according to the Kremlin’s statement, that “the Ukrainian forces have not fulfilled the tasks assigned to them.”
on saturday, UK Ministry of Defense said The past 24 hours witnessed “major Ukrainian operations” in the east and south of the country.
In its daily intelligence update, the government department said: “In some areas, Ukrainian forces have most likely made good progress and breached the first line of Russian defences.” “In other cases, the Ukrainian advance has been slower.”
The British Ministry of Defense said the performance of Russian forces was “mixed”, and they were likely to carry out some “credible” defense operations along with “increasing reports of Russian casualties”.
On Saturday, the Washington, D.C.-based Institute for the Study of War said Ukrainian forces conducted counter-offensive operations “in at least four areas” on the front line on June 10.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said on Saturday that the previous day saw “failed attempts” by Ukraine to conduct counter-offensive operations in Donetsk and Zaporizhia, as well as the besieged city of Bakhmut.
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