Russia Says It Has Fired On Ukrainian Military Targets Using Krasnopol Guided Missiles

These images purport to show Russian forces shooting at Ukrainian military targets using Krasnopol guided missiles fired from 'Msta-B' howitzers.

The footage begins by showing a Russian soldier preparing some ordnance with the help of a colleague.

After the soldiers have assembled the guided missile, they can be seen loading it into a howitzer.

Soldiers can then be seen calibrating the howitzer before it opens fire with a deafening roar as the footage ends.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Monday, 23rd January, along with a statement claiming: "Crews of 152-mm 'Msta-B' howitzers of the marines of the Pacific Fleet (Pacific Fleet) continue to destroy strongholds, weapons and manpower of the armed forces of Ukraine in the zone of special military operation.

"To do this, artillerymen use guided projectiles of the Krasnopol type. These munitions on the descending part of the flight path capture targets illuminated by a laser beam, and go into a controlled mode, which is carried out using aerodynamic steering bodies.

"The deviation from the illumination spot is no more than a few meters, regardless of the firing range. Correction of artillery fire is carried out with the help of unmanned aerial vehicles."

The Russian MoD also said: "The Krasnopol guided artillery weapon system for 152-mm artillery systems is designed to destroy protected small-sized observable targets, such as armored vehicles, observation posts, firing points."

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 335th day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 24th January 2023, Russia had lost about 122,170 personnel, 3,152 tanks, 6,284 armoured combat vehicles, 2,148 artillery units, 448 multiple launch rocket systems, 220 air defence systems, 289 warplanes, 281 helicopters, 1,897 drones, 749 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 4,944 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 194 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

A spokesperson for German arms manufacturer Rheinmetall has said that they could deliver 139 Leopard battle tanks to Ukraine if requested. Germany is under intense pressure from Ukraine and some NATO allies including Poland to allow for German-made Leopard 2 tanks to be supplied to Kyiv to help it defend itself against Russian aggression.

Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, has said that Germany is not blocking Leopard 2 tank exports. Poland has again said that it is ready to send tanks to Ukraine without consent from Germany.

Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said that his government would request permission from Germany to send Poland’s own Leopard tanks to Ukraine, but said that consent from Berlin was of “secondary importance”. But a spokesperson for the German government has said that Berlin has not so far received such a request from Poland or any other country.

Moscow has warned that Ukrainian people will “pay the price” if Western powers decide to send tanks to Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom has said that Russian forces in Ukraine are continuing to “endure operational deadlock and heavy casualties”.

Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, has claimed that the Russian government was willing to negotiate with Kyiv in the early months of the war but he said that the United States and other western powers had advised Ukraine against it.

Germany has begun to move its Patriot air defence systems into Poland, near the Ukrainian border, where they are set to be deployed to prevent stray missiles from hitting Polish territory.

Andrey Medvedev, a former commander of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group who recently fled to Norway, has reportedly been detained by the Norwegian police. His lawyer, named as Brynjulf Risnes, reportedly said that his client had been apprehended on Sunday evening after a “strong disagreement” over his living conditions at a safe house.

Turkey’s President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has stated that he will not support Sweden’s bid to join NATO after a protest in Stockholm at the weekend included a copy of the Quran being burned. Sweden applied to join NATO after Russia invaded Ukraine but it needs NATO member Turkey to approve.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom, said: “Sweden will respect the agreement that exists between Sweden, Finland and Turkey regarding our NATO membership.”