This footage shows how Ukrainian forces have decked out a trophy Russian armored fighting vehicle with an anti-aircraft gun that can fire 2,000 rounds per minute.
The images show at least three Ukrainian troops riding in a Russian MT-LB, a Soviet-era, tracked armored fighting vehicle, which has been fitted with a ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft gun.
The images were obtained from the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Wednesday, August 31, along with a statement saying: “The trophy motor league after ‘tuning’ by the Armed Forces of Ukraine and installation of the ZU-23-2 (with a rate of fire of 2,000 rounds per minute) has something to surprise its former owners. Believe in the Armed Forces of Ukraine!”
Zenger News contacted the Armed Forces of Ukraine 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”. Wednesday marks the 189th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and August 31, Russia had lost about 47,900 personnel, 1,974 tanks, 4,312 armored combat vehicles, 1,091 artillery units, 285 multiple launch rocket systems, 152 air defense systems, 234 warplanes, 204 helicopters, 849 drones, 196 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 3,236 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 103 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower, but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
An adviser to Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, Oleksiy Arestovych, has said that the country’s counteroffensive to retake Kherson will be a “slow operation to grind the enemy”.
Arestovych added: “Of course, many would like a large-scale offensive with news about the capture by our military of a settlement in an hour. But we don’t fight like that… funds are limited.”
President Zelensky has said that “heavy fighting” is ongoing in “almost the entire territory” of Kherson.
Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s Southern Command, said that Ukraine’s forces have successfully damaged bridges that cross the Dnieper River to Kherson, leaving them “impassable for heavy machinery”.
The Russian-installed leader of occupied Kherson, Kirill Stremousov, has reportedly fled back to Russia.
President Zelensky said that Ukraine’s parliament has endorsed several laws and ratifications to bring the country closer to the European Union. He added: “We are moving step by step towards full membership in the EU.”
The last Soviet leader, Mikhail Gorbachev, has died in Moscow aged 91. Tributes to the statesman, who passed away on Tuesday, August 30, have been pouring in. Gorbachev has been praised for bringing an end to the Cold War with his policy of “openness” (glasnost).
