This aerial footage purports to show Ukrainian tactical drones dropping bombs on Russian targets, injuring soldiers and setting military vehicles alight.
Zenger News obtained the footage from the Eastern Operational-Territorial Command of the National Guard of Ukraine – the Ukrainian national gendarmerie and internal military force – on June 12.
The Eastern Operational-Territorial Command said (in Ukrainian): “Divine punishment is a deadly surprise for Russian fascists. Light UAVs of the National Guard remotely disturb the occupying infantry, taking lives and injuring many of them. They force the enemy to stay close to shelters, shackle and divert significant resources.
“Drones have proven to be a very effective weapon that allows you to remotely detect combat targets, adjust mortar and artillery fire and destroy enemy manpower.
“This time, the Russian occupiers in Kharkiv Oblast relaxed a bit and did not suspect that this would be their last ammunition loading for some of them.
“Thanks to the work of special forces soldiers in Kharkiv Oblast, the enemy’s manpower and ammunition shells were destroyed with the help of a drone.
“Glory to Ukraine. Victory will be ours!”
We contacted Russian and Ukrainian officials for comment but had not received a reply at the time of writing.
Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation.” June 15 marks the 112th day of the campaign.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and June 14, Russia had lost 32,500 personnel, 1,434 tanks, 3,503 armored fighting vehicles, 721 artillery systems, 229 multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), 97 anti-aircraft systems, 213 warplanes, 179 helicopters, 2,473 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, 13 warships/boats, 588 drones, 54 pieces of special equipment and 125 cruise missiles.
All the bridges to the besieged Ukrainian city of Sievierodonetsk have reportedly been destroyed, the local governor, Serhiy Haidai, has said. Ukrainian forces there are now cut off from any possible retreat and fierce street-to-street fighting is taking place in the city, which has been the focus of Russian artillery fire for weeks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that Russian attacks on the cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk have turned them into “dead cities.” An aide to President Zelenskyy has said that Ukraine is losing up to 200 troops a day.
President Zelenskyy has repeatedly asked for additional weapons from Ukraine’s allies.
The United Kingdom and the United States have said they are sending long-range missile systems to Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of more attacks in Ukraine if the West sends long-range weapons.
Ukrainian officials have said that weapons are not arriving fast enough. An adviser to President Zelenskyy, Mykhailo Podolyak, has said that to end the war, they need “1,000 howitzers caliber 155 mm; 300 MLRS; 500 tanks; 2,000 armored vehicles; 1,000 drones”.
Podolyak added: “Contact Group of Defense Ministers meeting is held in Brussels on June 15. We are waiting for a decision.”
President Putin has said that the West will not be able to wean itself off from Russian oil and gas for years.
The European Parliament has adopted a resolution recommending that the European Union grant Ukraine the status of candidate country for EU membership. On June 8, 438 members of the parliament voted for the resolution, with 65 voting against and 94 abstaining.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg has said that Turkey has raised legitimate concerns in its opposition to Sweden and Finland joining the alliance and that talks to find a solution would continue.
