Ukrainian Air Recon Helps Artillery Hit Russian Infantry Positions With Self-Propelled Gun

These images show how a Ukrainian air reconnaissance battalion helped their colleagues in artillery hit Russian military positions in Bakhmut using a self-propelled gun.

The footage shows a number of Russian soldiers taking refuge in a damaged building in an urban setting before it and the surrounding area can be seen being repeatedly hit by Ukrainian ordnance.

The images were obtained from the 'Skala' Reconnaissance Battalion of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Thursday, 9th February, along with a statement saying: "Bakhmut Fortress. Adjustment of a 2C7 'Pion' by aerial reconnaissance."

The images and statement were also relayed by Operational Command 'East' of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The 2S7 Pion is a Soviet-era self-propelled gun.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 352nd day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 10th February 2023, Russia had lost about 135,740 personnel, 3,258 tanks, 6,471 armoured combat vehicles, 2,251 artillery units, 463 multiple launch rocket systems, 233 air defence systems, 295 warplanes, 286 helicopters, 1,970 drones, 796 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,126 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 211 units of special equipment.

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

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that several European Union leaders are prepared to provide his country with combat aircraft.

Zelensky said on Thursday: “Europe will be with us until our victory. I’ve heard it from a number of European leaders … about the readiness to give us the necessary weapons and support, including the aircraft.”

He added: “I have a number of bilaterals now, we are going to raise the issue of the fighter jets and other aircraft.”

The Ukrainian president also urged European leaders to deliver weaponry faster and begin EU membership discussions with Ukraine this year.

A spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister said that Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was looking into “whether we can provide fighter jets in the future”.

But the UK government also said that it would not send combat aircraft to Ukraine if this created risks to British safety.

Russia has reportedly launched a major new offensive in eastern Ukraine and is attempting a push near the town of Kreminna, according to the Ukrainian Governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Haidai.

Haidai said on Thursday that there had been “maximum escalation”, adding: “So far they haven’t had any success. Our defenders have been able to hold them back completely.”

Russian drones and missiles have hit targets in southern and eastern Ukraine on Thursday night, with Serhiy Lysak, the Ukrainian military administrator for the Dnipropetrovsk region, saying that Shahed drones had been detected in the area.

Zelensky has claimed that Ukraine has intercepted Russian secret service plans to destroy Moldova.

Speaking in Brussels to EU leaders, Zelensky said that his services had intercepted evidence that “shows who, when and how was going to break the democracy of Moldova and establish control over Moldova.”

Zelensky said that he had immediately warned his Moldovan counterpart, President Maia Sandu.

The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said on Thursday that the EU must continue to provide support to Ukraine, saying: “We understand that the coming weeks and months will be of decisive importance.”

He added: “Artillery, munitions, defence systems … you have told us exactly what you need and what you need now.”

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has announced new sanctions against Russia worth more than EUR 10 billion, which are geared towards targeting propagandists for Russian President Vladimir Putin.