This slick footage purports to show Russian heavy artillery pounding Ukrainian military targets as Russia’s war in Ukraine passes the six-month mark.
The footage opens with two 2S7 Pion self-propelled artillery vehicles rolling into position across an open field before troops are seen clambering out of them and preparing them to fire. The artillery pieces are then seen firing several rounds into the air simultaneously as targets in the crosshairs are seen going up in fiery explosions.
Zenger News obtained the footage from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation on August 25. The Russian statement claimed: “Combat operation of 203-mm Malka self-propelled artillery units of the Western Military District during the special military operation
“Artillery units of the Russian Armed Forces continue to carry out firing tasks to hit artillery and surface-to-air missile systems of [Armed Forces of Ukraine], strongholds, command posts and areas of concentration of Ukrainian military equipment during the special military operation.”
The 2S7 Pion “Peony” or Malka is a Soviet self-propelled 203-millimeter heavy artillery that entered service in 1976.
Zenger News contacted the Russian Ministry of Defense for further comment, as well as the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, but had not received a reply at the time of writing.
Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is calling a “special military operation”. Thursday marks the 183rd day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and August 25, Russia had lost about 45,850 personnel, 1,929 tanks, 4,245 armored combat vehicles, 1,037 artillery units, 272 multiple launch rocket systems, 148 air defense systems, 234 warplanes, 202 helicopters, 828 drones, 196 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 3,160 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 99 units of special equipment.
A Russian rocket strike on a train station in the town of Chaplyne in eastern Ukraine on August 24 killed 25 people, Ukrainian officials have said. Two boys aged six and 11 are among the dead while 31 people were wounded in the attack, which took place on Ukraine’s Independence Day, said officials.
The World Health Organization has reported 473 verified attacks on healthcare facilities in Ukraine since the Russian invasion began, killing nearly 100.
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on August 24, said: “Ukraine can and will win this war.”
The outgoing PM promised Kyiv a $63-million military package that will include 200 drones and loitering munitions. U.S. President Joe Biden has also announced nearly $3 billion in new military aid to Ukraine.
The U.K. imported no fuel from Russia in June for the first time since records began 25 years ago. Official data are showing a 97 percent fall in imports of Russian goods largely driven by sanctions on Moscow in response to the invasion.
Ukrainian officials rejected a message of congratulations from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Ukraine’s Independence Day. On his website, the authoritarian leader wished Ukrainians “peaceful skies, tolerance, courage, strength and success in restoring a decent life”.
President Lukashenko permitted Russian forces to stage part of the invasion of Ukraine from Belarusian territory in February.
