DPR Says Special Forces Destroyed Ukrainian Tank With Dual Kamikaze Drone Strike And Artillery
The so-called Donetsk People's Republic has said that Russian special forces have destroyed a Ukrainian tank after hitting it with two kamikaze drones and artillery, as these images purport to show. The video appears to show the moment the Ukrainian tank is hit by the first kamikaze drone. It can then be seen manoeuvring away before apparently taking cover in a building. Two people can then also be seen entering the building before it is apparently hit by artillery fire. The images were obtained from the People's Militia of the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) on Saturday, 29th July, along with a statement claiming: "Successful hunt by the army's special forces for a Ukrainian Armed Forces tank." The DPR added: "The reconnaissance team of the army's special forces identified an enemy tank disguised in the Avdiivka direction. "A strike was carried out on the target using a kamikaze drone, which damaged but did not destroy the tank. "The enemy's crew began to move the tank, hoping to escape, but it was once again hit by another drone while on the move. "Thinking they had eluded pursuit, the enemy tank operators retreated into an enclosure, inadvertently revealing their hideout to our observers. "Without delay, the artillery of the 132nd Brigade of the 1st Donetsk Army Corps (formerly the 3rd Brigade of the Donetsk People's Republic) was brought to bear on the target, which completely destroyed the hiding place along with the equipment and Ukrainian militants present there." We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage. Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 523rd day of the full-scale war. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 31st July 2023, Russia had lost about 246,190 personnel, 4,211 tanks, 8,188 armoured combat vehicles, 4,816 artillery units, 699 multiple launch rocket systems, 460 air defence systems, 315 warplanes, 311 helicopters, 4,017 drones, 1,347 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 7,292 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 715 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. Three Ukrainian drones have reportedly been shot down over the Russian capital Moscow and damaged a high-rise building containing government offices. One person was reportedly injured in the attack on Sunday, according to Russian officials, and the Vnukovo airport was temporarily shut down. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said that “war is returning to the territory of Russia” following the attack. He added that it was “an inevitable, natural and absolutely fair process” and that Russia’s symbolic centres and military installations will continue to be targeted. Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said that Moscow would be “forced” to use nuclear weapons if the Ukrainian counteroffensive is successful and Ukrainian forces “tore off a part of our land”. Saudi Arabia will reportedly host a peace summit in early August to try to find a way to begin negotiations over the war. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Chinese and African proposals could form the basis of a peace settlement. But he added that some elements were “difficult or impossible” to put in place. Russia said on Sunday that it had thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to attack Crimea with 25 drones.
