Footage released by Ukrainian military officials purports to show how two Russian infantry fighting vehicles were destroyed by a Ukrainian-made anti-tank guided missile.
The clip opens with Russian military vehicles unknowingly coming into the crosshairs as they cross a field. An explosion is then seen and the vehicles can be seen releasing smoke as they slowly come to a stop.
Zenger News obtained footage from the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces (DShV), Ukrainian Airborne Forces and one of the five branches of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Thursday.
@ua_dshv/Zenger
The DShV said: “Paratroopers from Zhytomyr destroyed two BMP-2s of the Russian occupiers.
“Yes, the video shows how the anti-tank soldiers of the 95th air assault brigade of the DShV of the Armed Forces of Ukraine skillfully use the national Stugna-P anti-tank missile system and enchantingly burn two BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles enemies.
“Death to the Russian occupiers! DShV – Always the first! Glory to Ukraine!”
The BMP-2 is an amphibious infantry fighting vehicle developed by the Soviet Union. It entered service in 1980. The Ukrainian army is also one of its current operators.
The Stugna-P is a Ukrainian anti-tank guided missile system developed by the Luch Design Bureau in Kyiv. It entered service in 2011.
Zenger News has contacted Russian and Ukrainian officials for comment, but has not received a response at the time of writing.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin calls a “special military operation” to “liberate Donbass.” June 16 marks the 113th day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and June 16, Russia lost approximately 32,950 troops, 1,449 tanks, 3,545 armored fighting vehicles, 729 artillery pieces, 233 multiple rocket launcher systems, 97 air defense systems, 213 combat aircraft. , 179 helicopters, 591 tactical drones, 129 cruise missiles, 13 warships, 2,494 motor vehicles and tankers and 55 special equipment.
Separately, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi arrived in Kyiv on Thursday for talks. Apparently, they hope to refute what has been seen as their lukewarm support for Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Washington has told China it risks finding itself on the “wrong side of history” following Chinese President Xi Jinping’s assurances to Russian President Vladimir Putin that Beijing supports Russian “sovereignty”.
Thousands of civilians remain trapped in the key city of Severodonetsk in eastern Ukraine, where water supplies appear to be dwindling. Hundreds of civilians take refuge in bunkers under the city’s Azot chemical plant.
Luhansk Oblast Governor Serhiy Haidai said earlier this week that all three bridges leading to Severodonetsk had been destroyed, making it impossible to deliver supplies and evacuate civilians.
President Joe Biden has promised Kyiv another billion dollars in security aid and arms, and General Mark Milley of the Joint Chiefs of Staff says Russia has lost about 20-30% of its forces armored during the current invasion.
This story was provided to Newsweek by Zenger News.
