This footage reportedly shows a Ukrainian tank hitting a Russian tank in the Zaporizhia region before the enemy vehicle was finished off by artillery.
The footage, which appears to have been shot by a Ukrainian soldier, shows the Ukrainian tank opening fire on the enemy war machine before the footage switches to the view from the sky. The images, which appear to have been shot by a drone, show the Russian tank being hit and left smoking. Ukrainian artillery then reportedly finished the Russian tank off, “disassembling it”.
The images were obtained from the Zaporizhia Separate Territorial Defense Brigade on Wednesday, August 24, along with a statement saying: “The Horde tank was destroyed with the first shot! Excellent work by Ukrainian Cossacks of the Zaporizhia Separate Territorial Defense Brigade and tankers of Khmelnytskyi.
“And then the artillery finished the job, disassembling the ‘armor’ into its component parts. Together to victory! Glory to Ukraine!”
Khmelnytskyi is a western Ukrainian city and region. The images and statement were also relayed by the Office of Strategic Communications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Zenger News contacted the Zaporizhia Separate Territorial Defense Brigade 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 still calling a “special military operation”. Wednesday marks the 182nd day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and August 24, Russia had lost about 45,700 personnel, 1,924 tanks, 4,243 armored combat vehicles, 1,036 artillery units, 266 multiple launch rocket systems, 147 air defense systems, 234 warplanes, 199 helicopters, 819 drones, 196 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 3,160 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 99 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower, but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, 49, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said on Monday, August 22, that almost 9,000 Ukrainian military personnel have been killed since the beginning of Russia’s invasion.
Ukraine is marking 31 years of independence from the Soviet Union today, on Wednesday, August 24. The United States is reportedly set to announce $3 billion in fresh military aid to Kyiv.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that the Ukrainian intelligence services and the country’s allies have information of an increased threat from Russia, with celebrations in Kyiv canceled. He warned Moscow of a “powerful response” to any attacks on Ukrainian Independence Day.
President Zelensky has vowed to retake Russian-occupied Crimea. He said: “We will return Crimea, because it is our territory. In any way we decide. We will decide it on our own, without consulting any other state.” He added: “It all began with Crimea and it will end with Crimea.”
The Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom issued an intelligence update today, on Wednesday, August 24, in which it said: “Today marks the 31st anniversary of Ukraine’s independence. Since 2014, President Putin has sought to use a mix of force and coercive diplomacy to increase and solidify Russia’s influence in Ukraine and interfere in its foreign affairs.
“Russia launched a full invasion of Ukraine six months ago, with the aim of toppling the government and occupying most of the country. By April, Russia’s leaders realized this had failed, and reverted to more modest objectives in eastern and southern Ukraine.
“The Donbas offensive is making minimal progress and Russia anticipates a major Ukrainian counterattack. Operationally, Russia is suffering from shortages of munitions, vehicles and personnel. Morale is poor in many parts of its military and its army is significantly degraded. Its diplomatic power has been diminished and its long-term economic outlook is bleak. Six months in and Russia’s war has proven both costly and strategically harmful.”
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said in a statement that it will visit the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant–Europe’s largest–in Ukraine in the coming days, if discussions are successful.
