Azov special forces working with counterintelligence officers from the Ukrainian Security service have taken out Russian BMPs by dropping bombs on them using drones, as this footage shows.
The images show a number of Russian military vehicles being hit from above by ordnance dropped from drones.
It is currently unclear where exactly in Ukraine the images were filmed but they were obtained from SSO Azov on Saturday, July 16, along with a short statement saying: “Fighters of the SSO AZOV and counter-intelligence officers of the SBU conducted a joint operation to neutralize enemy BMPs, which periodically caused inconvenience. The equipment was tracked in a forest strip and hit by cumulative shells from the air.”
SSO AZOV was formed on February 24, the day the Russians invaded, as a separate unit made up of Azov veterans. It “performs the task of protecting the territorial integrity of the country from the Russian aggressor.”
The SBU is the Security Service of Ukraine, the country’s main intelligence and security agency. BMPs are Russian-made infantry fighting vehicles that are often not dissimilar to light tanks.
The images and statement were also relayed by the Office of Strategic Communications (StratCom) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
We contacted the SSO Azov 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 calling a “special military operation”. July 19 marks the 146th day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and July 19, Russia had lost about 38,550 personnel, 1,691 tanks, 3,892 armored combat vehicles, 851 artillery units, 248 multiple launch rocket systems, 113 air defense systems, 220 warplanes, 188 helicopters, 693 drones, 167 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 2,767 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 70 units of special equipment.
Six people have been killed by Russian shelling in the eastern Ukrainian town of Toretsk, according to Ukrainian officials.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed a new acting head of domestic security after he dismissed Ukraine’s previous head of the security service and its prosecutor general, amid claims that some of their staff have been “working against” the country in territories currently occupied by Russia.
The First Lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, has met with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Zelenska is embarking on a series of appearances in Washington D.C. and is set to meet the U.S.’ First Lady Jill Biden.
Ukrainian military officials have said that Russia is preparing the next stage of its invasion after Moscow said that its forces in Ukraine will increase military activities in “all operational areas”.
Ukraine has said that Russia appears to be preparing its forces for an attack on the city of Sloviansk, in the eastern region of Donetsk.
The Russian majority state-owned energy company Gazprom told its European customers that it cannot guarantee gas supplies due to “extraordinary” circumstances.
Turkey has said that a resumption of Ukraine’s grain exports via the Black Sea is “probable” following a meeting with Ukraine, Russia and the United Nations to discuss “small problems”.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has again threatened to block Sweden and Finland’s bids to join NATO unless his conditions are met.
EU foreign ministers have agreed to a 500-million euro ($510 million) funding package to supply weapons to Ukraine, bringing the total since February to 2.5 billion euros($2.55 billion). EU foreign ministers are also reportedly discussing a ban on the import of Russian gold.
