This footage shows Ukrainian forces pummelling the Russian invaders with howitzers and mortars as they attempt to push them south.
The images show Ukrainian howitzers being deployed in a line in a field before they are loaded with ordnance and open fire on the enemy.
The footage also shows mortars firing at unseen Russian enemies.
The images were obtained from the 11th Brigade named after Mykhailo Hrushevsky of the National Guard of Ukraine, on Saturday, August 13, along with a statement saying: “Fighters of the NSU [National Guard of Ukraine] of Odessa are crushing the rashist occupiers in the south of the country.”
‘Rashist’ is a term that is often used by the Ukrainian forces when referring to the Russian invaders. It is a portmanteau of the words ‘Russia’ and ‘fascism.’
The 11th Brigade also said: “The Odessa Guardsmen confidently perform official and combat tasks both inside our country and on the front line – decently protecting the south of Ukraine. And artillery units mercilessly destroy enemy equipment and personnel.”
The statement quoted a soldier of the National Guard, named as Guardsman Vyacheslav, as saying: “War is a place where you need to react quickly to any changes in the situation. Ukrainian infantrymen are skillfully liberating meter by meter of their native land. As a rule, the infantry is always accompanied by heavy artillery.”
The 11th Brigade said: “Fighters confidently handle the weapons entrusted to them and quickly master new models from our Western partners. In the east and south of the country, Ukrainian troops are constantly hitting the Rashists with their well-aimed shots, and our guardsmen are powerfully reinforcing the battle lines.
“Military personnel of the National Guard of Ukraine confidently destroy the occupiers together with all defenders. Racists have no place on our fertile and free land. Together we will win! Glory to Ukraine!”
The images and statement were also relayed by the National Guard of Ukraine.
Zenger News contacted the 11th 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 still calling a “special military operation”. Monday marks the 173rd day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and August 15, Russia had lost about 43,750 personnel, 1,876 tanks, 4,141 armored combat vehicles, 985 artillery units, 261 multiple launch rocket systems, 136 air defense systems, 233 warplanes, 195 helicopters, 787 drones, 187 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 3,044 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 92 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower, but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. The Pentagon said last week that Russia had suffered between 70,000 and 80,000 casualties – deaths and injuries – since the beginning of its invasion.
Vladimir Putin has said that Russia and North Korea will expand bilateral relations, according to Pyongyang state media.
Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has said that Russian soldiers who open fire at or from the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant will be targeted by Ukrainian forces. Zelensky said: “Every Russian soldier who either shoots at the plant, or shoots using the plant as cover, must understand that he becomes a special target for our intelligence agents, for our special services, for our army.”
So far, 42 countries have demanded that Russia withdraw its military forces from the nuclear power plant, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and the countries of the European Union.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has warned that a nuclear disaster could occur unless fighting in the vicinity ceases.
Ukraine’s military has continued strikes on strategic bridges near the city of Kherson. Ukraine has said that by doing so, it is cutting off supplies from Russian forces in the occupied city and region.
The Ministry of Defense of the United Kingdom has said that over the last week Russia’s priority is likely to have been to reorganize its forces in a bid to strengthen its position in southern Ukraine.
But the U.K. MoD also said that Russia appears to be intensifying its offensive in the eastern Donbas region in what it said was likely to be an attempt to make sure that Ukraine was not able to concentrate its forces in the south to push the Russians out of Kherson.
Saudi Aramco, Saudi Arabia’s primarily state-owned energy company, has recorded record profits for the last quarter in light of the energy crisis linked to the war in Ukraine. Its profits were up 90 percent in the three months to the end of June to $48 billion.
Saudi Arabia’s Kingdom Holding said on Sunday that it had invested in Russian energy groups Gazprom, Rosneft and Lukoil between February 22 and March 22.
Countries throughout Europe have called on the European Union to block or limit short-term Schengen visas for Russian citizens. Finland, the Czech Republic, Latvia, Estonia, and Ukraine have all urged new restrictions, with Poland also considering placing restrictions on Russian tourist visas.
