This footage purports to show a Russian multiple rocket launcher vehicle in action somewhere in Ukraine.
The new footage was obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) on Tuesday, July 26 and allegedly shows a BM-30 ‘Smerch’ (‘Tornado’ or ‘Whirlwind’ in Russian) in action somewhere in Ukraine. It can be seen sporting a now infamous ‘Z’ on its side.
The ‘Z’ is one of the symbols, as well as the letters ‘V’ and ‘O’ that can be seen painted on Russian military vehicles taking part in the invasion of Ukraine.
The Russian MoD claimed in a statement (in Russian), also obtained on Tuesday, July 26: “The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, in the course of a special military operation, continue to carry out missile strikes against military infrastructure and military equipment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“According to intelligence, units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine have concentrated ammunition, military equipment and weapons to supply their troops. The data was confirmed by technical reconnaissance equipment, after which the Smerch multiple rocket launcher unit attacked a logistics center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
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”. Wednesday marks the 154th day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and July 27, Russia had lost about 40,070 personnel, 1,738 tanks, 3,971 armored combat vehicles, 883 artillery units, 258 multiple launch rocket systems, 117 air defense systems, 222 warplanes, 190 helicopters, 726 drones, 174 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 2,847 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 75 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower, but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have said that they have hit the Antonivskiy Bridge in the Russian-occupied region of Kherson in southern Ukraine in a bid to disrupt enemy supplies destined for the occupied city of Kherson.
Kharkiv Oblast’s regional governor Oleh Syniehubov has said that Russian forces resumed strikes on civilian infrastructure in the city of Kharkiv on the morning of Tuesday, July 26.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit the Russian resort of Sochi on August 5, his office has said. It is expected that he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Turkey’s Ministry of Defense has said that a Joint Coordination Center (JCC) for Ukrainian grain exports, operating under an UN-brokered deal, is set to open in Istanbul.
The European Union has watered down plans to ration gas in winter in a bid to avoid exacerbating the energy crisis caused by Russian supply cuts. The energy ministers of 27 EU member states, with the exception of Hungary, have backed a voluntary 15-percent reduction in gas consumption over the coming winter.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of cutting natural gas supplies to cause a “price terror” against Europe. He said: “Using Gazprom, Moscow is doing all it can to make this coming winter as harsh as possible for the European countries. Terror must be answered – impose sanctions.”
