This footage allegedly shows a Russian Iskander mobile short-range ballistic missile system allegedly firing on targets in Ukraine.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed in a statement, also obtained on Monday, August 15, that the images show one of their Iskanders “striking at the military infrastructure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the zone of the special military operation.”
The images appear to show one or two Iskanders deploying missiles, with one of them firing. The footage ends as the missile shoots off into the sky.
The Russian statement also claimed: “In the course of the special military operation, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to strike with precision-guided missiles at military infrastructure facilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“The target coordinates are received, from the command post – the command to prepare is instantly transmitted to the launcher.
“Depending on the components, a missile can hit a large area target – for example, an accumulation of manpower or deliver a pinpoint strike on an underground concrete structure. According to the missilemen, if desired, it can even fly into a window.
“They work in ammunition depots, command posts, and air defense systems. The target can be moving, it doesn’t matter, it can move, for example, at 60 kilometers [37 miles] per hour. Just calculate at what point it will be at the moment of impact.
“From the shelter, the ‘Iskander’ goes to the launch point. This complex is armed with cruise missiles that fly at ultra-low altitude. And they are almost undetectable. ‘Iskanders’ are guaranteed to destroy any military facility within 500 kilometers [310 miles] from the front line on enemy territory.
“Iskander divisions are on round-the-clock combat duty.”
Zenger News has 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 still calling a “special military operation”. Monday marks the 173rd day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and August 15, Russia had lost about 43,750 personnel, 1,876 tanks, 4,141 armored combat vehicles, 985 artillery units, 261 multiple launch rocket systems, 136 air defense systems, 233 warplanes, 195 helicopters, 787 drones, 187 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 3,044 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 92 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower, but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. The Pentagon said last week that Russia had suffered between 70,000 and 80,000 casualties – deaths and injuries – since the beginning of its invasion.
Vladimir Putin has said that Russia and North Korea will expand bilateral relations, according to Pyongyang state media.
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has said that Russian soldiers who open fire at or from the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant will be targeted by Ukrainian forces. Zelensky said: “Every Russian soldier who either shoots at the plant, or shoots using the plant as cover, must understand that he becomes a special target for our intelligence agents, for our special services, for our army.”
So far, 42 countries have demanded that Russia withdraw its military forces from the nuclear power plant, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the countries of the European Union.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that a nuclear disaster could occur unless fighting in the vicinity ceases.
Ukraine’s military has continued strikes on strategic bridges near the city of Kherson. Ukraine has said that by doing so, it is cutting off supplies from Russian forces in the occupied city and region.
The Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom has said that over the last week Russia’s priority is likely to have been to reorganize its forces in a bid to strengthen its position in southern Ukraine.
But the U.K. MoD also said that Russia appears to be intensifying its offensive in the eastern Donbas region in what it said was likely to be an attempt to make sure that Ukraine was not able to concentrate its forces in the south to push the Russians out of Kherson.
Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s primarily state-owned energy company, has recorded record profits for the last quarter in light of the energy crisis linked to the war in Ukraine. Its profits were up 90 percent in the three months to the end of June to $48 billion.
Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding said on Sunday that it had invested in Russian energy groups Gazprom, Rosneft and Lukoil between February 22 and March 22.
Countries throughout Europe have called on the European Union to block or limit short-term Schengen visas for Russian citizens. Finland, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Estonia, and Ukraine have all urged new restrictions, with Poland also considering placing restrictions on Russian tourist visas.
