Pro-Russian DPR Says It Killed Ukrainian Soldiers Using Artillery

The pro-Russian Donetsk People's Republic has said that it has killed Ukrainian soldiers using artillery, as these images purport to show.

The footage appears to show a number of Ukrainian soldiers walking through a forested area in single file before the area is targeted by the enemy artillery.

The images were obtained from the People's Militia of the DPR on Monday, 23rd January, along with a statement saying: "Artillery of the 3rd brigade covered a group of Ukrainian militants.

"A UAV operator of the 3rd brigade of the 1st Donetsk Army Corps, during reconnaissance, discovered the movement of a group of Ukrainian militants. Artillery fire was opened on the identified target, as a result of which the enemy suffered heavy losses."

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.”