Ukrainian soldiers launched an anti-aircraft missile into the sky and apparently destroy a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle, as these images show.
General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on July 9: “Three enemy unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) destroyed per day by soldiers of the aircraft regiment of the Ukrainian Air Force.
“Every day, anti-aircraft fighters bring victory one step closer. One UAV yesterday evening and two in the morning were destroyed by servicemen of the anti-aircraft missile regiment of Air Command Central, which is carrying out combat missions in designated areas on the eastern borders of Ukraine.
“This is yet another confirmation of conscientious performance of duties, professionalism and skillful actions of our anti-aircraft missile servicemen.”
We contacted the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for further comment, as well as the Russian Ministry of Defense, but haven’t received a reply at the time of writing.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation.” July 11 marks the 138th day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and July 11, Russia had lost about 37,400 personnel, 1,645 tanks, 3,828 armored combat vehicles, 838 artillery units, 247 multiple launch rocket systems, 109 air defense systems, 217 warplanes, 188 helicopters, 676 drones, 155 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 2,696 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 66 units of special equipment.
On July 11, the Ukrainian military said defending troops had successfully fended off an enemy assault on Krasnopillia while also preventing the Russians from carrying out an offensive on Marinka in Donetsk Oblast.
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General’s Office claimed that Russia has committed over 22,500 war crimes and crimes of aggression against Ukraine.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Russia has only just begun its campaign in Ukraine and dared the West to attempt to defeat it on battlefield.
Putin told parliamentary leaders: “Everyone should know that, by and large, we haven’t started anything yet in earnest.”
He added: “The further it goes, the harder it will be for them to negotiate with us.”
Russia’s defense ministry has claimed that it killed Ukrainian servicemen who were trying to raise Ukraine’s flag on the recently retaken Snake Island but Ukraine has denied that any of its servicemen on the island were killed.
The Institute for the Study of War, a U.S.-based think tank, has said that Russia may be temporarily easing its offensive in eastern Ukraine in an “operational pause” as its forces rest before they attempt to reassemble for a new offensive.
Ukraine recently summoned the ambassador of Turkey, claiming that Turkey has allowed a Russian ship carrying thousands of ton of grain allegedly stolen from Ukraine to leave exports to one of its ports. Kyiv alleges that the vessel is transporting stolen cargo amounting to 7,000 tons of grain.
The United Nations has warned of a “looming hunger catastrophe” due to Russia’s blockade on Ukrainian grain exports.
