These pieces of footage allegedly show a Ukrainian surface-to-air missile system firing a missile high into the sky, where it blows up a Russian drone.
Zenger News obtained the footage from the Air Command Central, a branch of the Ukrainian Air Force, on August 24.
ArmyInform – the official information agency of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine – said in a statement: “Today, August 24, during the day, the calculations of the anti-aircraft missile forces, together with the calculations of the operational subordination of the Air Command Central of the Air Force, destroyed two more UAVs of the Russian invaders in the Ukrainian sky. This was reported by the Air Command Central.
“Yes, our defenders downed one UAV in Sumy Oblast and another in Cherkasy Oblast. Enemy drones, probably Orlan-10s, tried to scout the location of our troops. As previously reported, the air defense forces destroyed the second drone over Chernihiv Oblast at around 5 p.m.”
The Orlan-10 is a reconnaissance, unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the Special Technology Center in Saint Petersburg for the Russian Armed Forces. It entered service in 2011.
Zenger News contacted the Air Command Central for further comment, as well as the Russian 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”. Thursday marks the 183rd day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and August 25, Russia had lost about 45,850 personnel, 1,929 tanks, 4,245 armored combat vehicles, 1,037 artillery units, 272 multiple launch rocket systems, 148 air defense systems, 234 warplanes, 202 helicopters, 828 drones, 196 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 3,160 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 99 units of special equipment.
A Russian rocket strike on a train station in the town of Chaplyne in eastern Ukraine on August 24 killed 25 people, Ukrainian officials have said. Two boys aged six and 11 are among the dead while 31 people were wounded in the attack, which took place on Ukraine’s Independence Day, said officials.
The World Health Organization has reported 473 verified attacks on healthcare facilities in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began, killing nearly 100.
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on August 24, said: “Ukraine can and will win this war.”
The outgoing PM promised Kyiv a $63-million military package that will include 200 drones and loitering munitions. U.S. President Joe Biden has also announced nearly $3 billion in new military aid to Ukraine.
The U.K. imported no fuel from Russia in June for the first time since records began 25 years ago. Official data are showing a 97 percent fall in imports of Russian goods largely driven by sanctions on Moscow in response to the invasion.
Ukrainian officials rejected a message of congratulations from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Ukraine’s Independence Day. On his website, the authoritarian leader wished Ukrainians “peaceful skies, tolerance, courage, strength and success in restoring a decent life”.
President Lukashenko permitted Russian forces to stage part of the invasion of Ukraine from Belarusian territory in February.
