This footage allegedly shows a Soviet-era, mobile, short-range surface-to-air missile system taking out a Ukrainian drone before a soldier explains how it works and what his job involves.
The images allegedly show a Strela-10 missile system, sporting the now infamous ‘Z’ symbol, maneuvering into position before firing a missile into the sky and apparently hitting a target.
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 footage then cuts to what appear to be the remains of a drone.
A soldier then explains: “I am the commander of a Strela 10 combat vehicle. It is designed to protect motorized rifle, tank and other combat units. It protects from low-flying enemy targets and from drones, aircraft and helicopters.
“This anti-aircraft system has proven itself here. Several launches have already been made from this machine on UAVs. The situation is already quite stable here.
“The enemy launches UAVs from their place and we shoot them down, otherwise they will adjust the fire of their artillery and, accordingly, inflict damage on our positions.
“My task is to prevent this and to shoot down the UAVs in the air.”
A second soldier can then be heard asking: “Do you think victory will come soon?”
The first soldier then replies: “I think it will, everyone hopes everything will end quickly and everyone will return home safe and sound.”
The footage was obtained from the People’s Militia of the DPR on Sunday, July 31, along with a short statement claiming: “In modern warfare, air defense units play one of the most important roles on the battlefield, not only destroying enemy combat aircraft, but also depriving them of the ability to adjust artillery fire using UAVs.
“The commander of the ‘Strela-10’ combat vehicle, with the call sign ‘Thirty-fourth’ speaks about his combat work in the Mykolaiv direction.”
The Strela-10 is a Soviet-era, mobile, short-range surface-to-air missile system that was originally designed to take out low-flying targets such as helicopters.
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
Zenger News contacted the People’s Militia of the DPR for further comment, as well as the Ukrainian and Russian Ministries 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”. Monday marks the 159th day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and August 1, Russia had lost about 41,030 personnel, 1,768 tanks, 4,011 armored combat vehicles, 932 artillery units, 259 multiple launch rocket systems, 117 air defense systems, 223 warplanes, 190 helicopters, 736 drones, 174 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 2,912 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 82 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower, but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Vadym Skibitsky, Ukraine’s deputy head of military intelligence, has said that Russia is moving large numbers of soldiers to the south of the country in a bid to take up defensive positions ahead of an expected Ukrainian counteroffensive to retake territory occupied by Russian forces since the beginning of the invasion.
Skibitsky said: “They are increasing their troop numbers, preparing for our counteroffensive [in southern Ukraine] and perhaps preparing to launch an offensive of their own.”
Ukraine’s Ministry for Reintegration of the Temporary Occupied Territories has urged hundreds of thousands of civilians to evacuate frontline areas of the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk.
The ministry said: “They need to be evacuated, you cannot put them in mortal danger in the winter without heating, light, without the ability to keep them warm.”
The southern Ukrainian port city of Mykolaiv was hit by Russian strikes early on Sunday morning in what Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has described as “probably the most brutal” attack on the city since the beginning of the war.
Mykolaiv Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych also said that the missile strikes were probably the heaviest Russian bombardments of the city so far.
One of the richest men in Ukraine, Oleksiy Vadatursky, 74, along with his wife Raisa, were killed when a missile hit their home in Mykolaiv. Vadatursky, who had received the “Hero of Ukraine” award, owned Nibulon, a company that is involved in exporting grain and was reportedly worth $450 million in 2020, according to Forbes.
The first ship carrying grain has left the Ukrainian port of Odesa as part of a landmark deal between Ukraine and Russia and overseen by Turkey and the United Nations.
The Joint Coordination Center (JCC) in Istanbul, which was established as part of the deal, said the ship was carrying approximately 26,000 tons of corn and is expected to arrive in Turkish waters on Tuesday for inspection.
