This footage purports to show artillerymen of the so-called People’s Militia of the Donetsk People’s Republic firing at unseen Ukrainian positions.
Some of the artillery pieces can be seen sporting the now infamous ‘Z’ symbol. The ‘Z’, as well as the letters ‘V’ and ‘O’, is one of the symbols that can be seen painted on Russian military vehicles taking part in the invasion of Ukraine.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defense on Friday, July 29, along with a statement claiming (in English): “Russian Defense Ministry publishes footage of artillery units from 1st Army Corps of DPR People’s Militia in combat action within a special military operation.
“Servicemen of an artillery regiment from the Artillery Corps destroy the fortifications and the strongpoints of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) using D-20 and 2A-36 155-mm guns.
“Unmanned aerial vehicle crews are tasked to transmit coordinates of reconnoitered targets to artillery units.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
Zenger News contacted the Russian MoD for further comment, as well as the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, but had not received a reply at the time of writing.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is calling a “special military operation”. Friday marks the 156th day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and July 29, Russia had lost about 40,500 personnel, 1,749 tanks, 3,987 armored combat vehicles, 900 artillery units, 258 multiple launch rocket systems, 117 air defense systems, 222 warplanes, 190 helicopters, 731 drones, 174 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 2,870 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 77 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower, but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukraine is increasing its effort to retake Russian-controlled regions in the south of the country, with the Ukrainian Armed Forces stating that their planes had struck at least five Russian fortifications near the city of Kherson.
British defense and intelligence officials have said that the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the country’s south is “gathering momentum”.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk has urged Ukrainian residents in Russian-occupied areas in the eastern Donbas region to evacuate, adding that people risked losing access to “power, water, food and medical supplies, heating and communication” if they remain in the region.
U.S. lawmakers have been told by U.S. officials that over 75,000 Russians are estimated to have been killed or injured in the war so far, but there has been no recent information from the Russian authorities on the number of deaths.
Martin Griffiths, the UN aid chief, is hopeful that the first grain shipment from a Ukrainian Black Sea port could occur as early as Friday, July 29.
