This Kremlin propaganda clip shows Russian units delivering devastating strikes against Ukrainian forces as the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claims a series of vital victories.
The MoD said in an updated report of the ‘special military operation’ on July 22: “The enemy is suffering considerable losses of armament delivered by Western countries.
“From July 5 to July 20, 4 launchers and 1 reloading vehicle for the U.S.-manufactured HIMARS MRLS [Multiple Rocket Launching Systems] delivered to Ukraine were eliminated by high-precision ground- and air-based armament.
“Among them, 2 launchers were destroyed near Malotaranovka, 1 HIMARS and 1 reloading vehicle were destroyed near Krasnoarmeysk, as well as a 4th launcher in the eastern suburb of Konstantinovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
“Attacks by high-precision ground-based armament have resulted in the elimination of a provisional base of the Black Hundred nationalist group deployed in School No.23 in Kramatorsk (Donetsk People’s Republic). Up to 300 nationalists and over 40 units of special equipment have been eliminated.”
The Russian MoD claimed: “Attacks launched by high-precision armament of the Russian Aerospace Forces have resulted in the elimination of a missile and artillery armament depot of the 59th Mechanized Infantry Brigade of the AFU deployed at an industrial area in the eastern part of Nikolayev.
“The enemy has lost up to 30 servicemen, 6 armored and motor vehicles, over 2,000 projectiles for the Grad MRLS, about 1,000 projectiles for the Akatsiya self-propelled howitzers.
“Operational-tactical and army aviation, missile troops and artillery units continue launching attacks on military facilities in Ukraine.
“The list of neutralized targets includes: 6 command posts, including one of the 92nd Mechanized Brigade near Rogan (Kharkov region), 1 command and observation post of the 72nd Mechanized Brigade of the AFU near Serebryanka (Donetsk People’s Republic), as well as 5 missile and artillery armament and munitions depots near Zaytsevo (Donetsk People’s Republic), Vishevoye and Uspenovka (Zaporozhye region).
“Russian air defense means have shot down 12 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles near Malaya Kamyshevakha, Vernopolye, Oknino, Balakleya, Verbovka, Slatino, Dolgenkoye, Chervony Oskol, Peschanoye (Kharkov region), Petrovskoye and Zlatoustovka (Donetsk People’s Republic).
“In addition, 2 projectiles launched by the Uragan MRLS have been intercepted near Topolskoye and Malaya Kamyshevakha (Kharkov region).
“In total, 260 planes and 144 helicopters, 1,589 unmanned aerial vehicles, 357 air defense missile systems, 4,141 tanks and other armored vehicles, 762 combat vehicles equipped with MRLS, 3,176 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 4,453 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation.
In contrast, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and July 22, Russia had lost about 39,000 personnel, 1,704 tanks, 3,920 armored combat vehicles, 863 artillery units, 251 multiple launch rocket systems, 113 air defense systems, 221 warplanes, 188 helicopters, 713 drones, 167 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 2,781 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 72 units of special equipment.
Zenger News contacted the Russian MoD for further comment, as well as the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, 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 149th day of the invasion.
In related news, MI6 head Richard Moore said on July 21 that the Russian military was likely to start an operational pause in Ukraine in the coming weeks, giving Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s forces an opportunity to strike back.
But U.K. intelligence also said Russian forces appeared to be closing in on the Vuhlehirska coal-fueled thermal power station in Svitlodarsk, Donetsk Oblast, in Moscow’s push to seize critical infrastructure and take more Ukrainian territory.
Kharkiv mayor Ihor Terekhov reported on July 21 that Russia had shelled one of the most densely populated areas of Ukraine’s second city, with the provincial prosecutor’s office reporting three dead and 23 wounded in the strikes.
CIA director William Burns said on July 20 that Washington estimated around 15,000 Russian military fatalities in Ukraine thus far, in addition to some 45,000 wounded, with corresponding Ukrainian figures also significant.
Ukraine, Russia, Turkey and UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres will sign a deal on July 22 to resume the export of grain from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, according to the office of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Meanwhile, an EU proposal that member states cut gas use by 15 percent in preparation for potential supply cuts from Russia has met resistance from individual governments, casting doubt on whether the emergency plan will be approved.
