Russia Shows Off DPR Tanks In Action In Donetsk Region In Eastern Ukraine

This footage obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence purports to show DPR tanks in action in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. The tanks can be seen bearing the now infamous 'Z' symbol. The 'Z' - as well as the letters 'V' and 'O' - is one of the symbols that can be seen painted on Russian military vehicles taking part in the invasion of Ukraine. They can be seen opening fire, allegedly on Ukrainian positions. The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday, 27th of July, along with a statement (in Russian) claiming that the images show "personnel of the combat work of tank units of the 1st Army Corps of the People's Militia of the Donetsk People's Republic working to capture the stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "The tankers of the army corps advanced to the line of fire and destroyed firing positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "In total, during the battle, up to a platoon of militants was destroyed, as well as several pieces of equipment and weapons in firing positions." We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage. Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 155th day of the invasion. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 28th July, Russia had lost about 40,230 personnel, 1,742 tanks, 3,979 armoured combat vehicles, 894 artillery units, 258 multiple launch rocket systems, 117 air defence systems, 222 warplanes, 190 helicopters, 729 drones, 174 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 2,854 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 75 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower, but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. The Armed Forces of Ukraine said they hit the Antonivskiy Bridge in the Russian-occupied region of Kherson in southern Ukraine in a bid to disrupt enemy supplies destined for the occupied city of Kherson. Oleksiy Arestovych, an adviser to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, has since said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces are planning to “isolate [Russia’s] military operations” in the region and that the operation to liberate Kherson “has already begun”. President Zelensky said Ukraine would rebuild the Antonivskiy Bridge and other crossings in the region. He said: “We are doing everything to ensure that the occupying forces do not have any logistical opportunities in our country.” Arestovych also said that Russian forces are being massively redeployed to three regions in southern Ukraine. He said the Russian forces were changing tactics and adopting defensive positions in the regions of Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson. Arestovych confirmed Russia’s claim that it had captured Ukraine’s second biggest power plant, Vuhlehirsk, in eastern Ukraine. Preparations are ongoing for the first ships carrying grain to leave Ukraine’s ports, with Turkey unveiling a centre in Istanbul to oversee the deal, which was brokered by the UN and Ankara and which was signed by both Ukraine and Russia. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that he is set to talk to Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov by phone. It will be the first call between the two diplomats since the beginning of the Russian invasion.