Ukrainian troops have revealed some of their secrets regarding how to successfully operate a Stugna-P anti-tank guided missile system – including hitting a target that was over three miles away.
In the footage, a soldier first goes over the number of enemy units they have recently taken out. He said (in Ukrainian): “The total number of destroyed enemy tanks is 17 units and the total number of destroyed vehicles is 29 units, including armored vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, armored fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers.”
A second soldier then explains: “It should be noted that working with the Stugna is a team effort. It involves interaction between all participants in the calculations, and reloading the Stugna must be quick.
“Stugna operators do not work like artillery, far behind.”
A third soldier then says: “There was a shot at 5,300 meters [3.3 miles]. It was when we did not know the range of the target, but we nevertheless fired a rocket, as we clearly saw the tank. The missile flew, hit the tank, the tank burned down, but the SRG [Sabotage and Reconnaissance Group] found us, the battle distance was 10 to 15 meters [32 to 50 feet]. We clearly saw their faces.
“I can give everyone advice, if you see the enemy at this distance, don’t wait, shoot immediately. We fired, wounded several Russians, and they retreated.
“We make sure from our own experience that the Stugna is one of the most effective anti-tank missile systems in this war!”
It is unclear where exactly in Ukraine the images were filmed but the footage was obtained from the Command of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces on Thursday, July 28, along with a short statement saying (in Ukrainian) that the images showed “soldiers of the anti-tank unit of the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine talking about the conduct of hostilities with the Russian invaders, destroying enemy equipment, their achievements, close combat with saboteurs, and what skills are required to operate the Stugna-P ATGM.”
They also said that firing a rocket at a distance of 5,300 meters (3.3 miles) “significantly exceeds the effective maximum firing range of the ATGM.” The maximum effective range of the system is considered to be approximately 5,000 meters (3.1 miles).
They signed off with: “Death to the Russian invaders! The Air Assault Forces always come first! Glory to Ukraine!”
Zenger News contacted the Command of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces 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”. Friday marks the 156th day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and July 29, Russia had lost about 40,500 personnel, 1,749 tanks, 3,987 armored combat vehicles, 900 artillery units, 258 multiple launch rocket systems, 117 air defense systems, 222 warplanes, 190 helicopters, 731 drones, 174 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 2,870 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 77 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower, but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukraine is increasing its effort to retake Russian-controlled regions in the south of the country, with the Ukrainian Armed Forces stating that their planes had struck at least five Russian fortifications near the city of Kherson.
British defense and intelligence officials have said that the Ukrainian counteroffensive in the country’s south is “gathering momentum”.
Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk has urged Ukrainian residents in Russian-occupied areas in the eastern Donbas region to evacuate, adding that people risked losing access to “power, water, food and medical supplies, heating and communication” if they remain in the region.
U.S. lawmakers have been told by U.S. officials that over 75,000 Russians are estimated to have been killed or injured in the war so far, but there has been no recent information from the Russian authorities on the number of deaths.
Martin Griffiths, the UN aid chief, is hopeful that the first grain shipment from a Ukrainian Black Sea port could occur as early as Friday.
