These images show Ukrainian armed drones destroying cars sporting the ‘Z’ symbol that are used by the Russian military in Ukraine in what their operators said were a series of “little pranks.”
The footage shows multiple cars bearing the ‘Z’ symbol being targeted from the sky by Ukrainian armed drones that drop bombs on them. Russian military equipment can also be seen being targeted.
The ‘Z’ is one of the symbols, as well as the letters ‘V’ and ‘O,’ that can be seen painted on Russian military vehicles taking part in the invasion of Ukraine.
The footage was obtained from the 40th Artillery Brigade of the Ukrainian Ground Forces – also known as the 40th Separate Artillery Brigade named after Grand Duke Vytautas – on Tuesday, July 26, along with a short statement saying that they were “little pranks” for the Russians.
The footage was also relayed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as the Center for Strategic Communications and Information Security, which operates under the umbrella of the Ministry of Culture and Information of Ukraine.
Zenger News contacted the 40th Artillery Brigade for further comment, as well as the Russian 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”. Wednesday marks the 154th day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and July 27, Russia had lost about 40,070 personnel, 1,738 tanks, 3,971 armored combat vehicles, 883 artillery units, 258 multiple launch rocket systems, 117 air defense systems, 222 warplanes, 190 helicopters, 726 drones, 174 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 2,847 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 have said that they have 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.
Kharkiv Oblast’s regional governor Oleh Syniehubov has said that Russian forces resumed strikes on civilian infrastructure in the city of Kharkiv on the morning of Tuesday, July 26.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will visit the Russian resort of Sochi on August 5, his office has said. It is expected that he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Turkey’s Ministry of Defense has said that a Joint Coordination Center (JCC) for Ukrainian grain exports, operating under an UN-brokered deal, is set to open in Istanbul.
The European Union has watered down plans to ration gas in winter in a bid to avoid exacerbating the energy crisis caused by Russian supply cuts. The energy ministers of 27 EU member states, with the exception of Hungary, have backed a voluntary 15-percent reduction in gas consumption over the coming winter.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of cutting natural gas supplies to cause a “price terror” against Europe. He said: “Using Gazprom, Moscow is doing all it can to make this coming winter as harsh as possible for the European countries. Terror must be answered – impose sanctions.”
