A video shows the moment Russian troops blast a Ukrainian battery of 155-mm howitzers supplied by Italy.
The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) also released a statement saying a battery of Italian-produced howitzers was discovered during a reconnaissance mission.
Additional information was gathered by troops with a spy drone before a high-precision strike was ordered against the howitzers.
The Russian military said on May 30: “Footage of the destruction of the firing position of Italian-produced towed 155-mm howitzers supplied to Ukraine.
“The firing position of the Ukrainian nationalists was discovered by means of artillery reconnaissance.
“After additional reconnaissance by crew members of an unmanned aerial vehicle, a high-precision artillery strike was ordered at the firing position.”
The Russian MoD did not state where and when the strike took place.
Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. May 30 marks the 96th day of the campaign.
From February 24 to May 30, the total combat losses of Russian troops stand at around 30,350 personnel, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian military also claims that Russia has lost 1,349 tanks, 3,282 armored fighting vehicles, 643 artillery systems, 205 multiple launch rocket systems, 93 anti-aircraft systems, 207 warplanes, 174 helicopters, 2,258 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, 13 vessels, 507 unmanned aerial vehicles, 48 units of special equipment, and 118 cruise missiles.
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree that makes it easier for Ukrainians in occupied areas to become citizens of Russia. He also scrapped the upper age limit for contractual service in the military.
Ukraine has called Russia’s offer to lift the blockade of its Black Sea ports in return for the lifting of some sanctions “blackmail”. The blockade has led to shortages in wheat and cooking oil across the world.
Meanwhile, Russian troops entered the outskirts of Sievierodonetsk in the early morning of May 30 and are trying to make their way to the city center.
The Ukrainian military said: “Two Sievierodonetsk residents were killed with Russian shells, and five more injured. Most of them are from the same residential quarter in the old part of the city. They were cooking food in the yard as the shelling suddenly began. Two Syrotyne residents were seriously injured. All the injured received first aid and were taken to hospitals in Donetsk region.”
