The images were obtained by the Ukrainian Navy’s 503rd Separate Marine Corps Battalion on August 20, along with a statement that read: “The closer to Independence Day, the more actively the Russians are trying to occupy our land. “They come in small groups, try to gather strength, thinking we don’t know them or won’t see them. But, they still don’t understand who they are dealing with. Well, now they’ll find out for themselves why we have such fertile black soil because people like them are buried four layers deep.” Russian soldiers reportedly go near a building in a field area in the direction of Donetsk, Ukraine, Saturday, Aug. 20, 2022. According to Ukrainian forces, military units of its Navy destroyed two tanks and 12 Russian soldiers. Zenger/@503obmp The Ukrainian Navy, relaying the video, said on August 21: “On August 20, servicemen of the military units and units of the Marine Corps Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine are part of the groups that firmly and courageously resisted the Russian invaders in the fortified areas of the forehead. “In the direction of Donetsk, the marines destroyed two tanks, an armored personnel carrier and a vehicle with enemy ammunition. Our artillery units hit a concentration of insurgent personnel and equipment, resulting in 12 insurgents killed and wounded, and one Hyacinth-S self-propelled howitzer destroyed. “Final enemy losses confirmed. Glory to Ukraine!” The images were also transmitted by the Office of Strategic Communications (StratCom) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Zenger News contacted the Ukrainian Navy and they said “the footage was authentic and the information accurate.” Zenger News also reached out to the Russian Ministry of Defense for comment, but had not received a response at the time of writing. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin still calls a “special military operation.” Tuesday marks the 181st day of the war. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and August 22, Russia had lost approximately 45,400 personnel, 1,919 tanks, 4,230 armored fighting vehicles, 1,032 artillery units, 266 multiple launch missile systems, 145 air defense combat systems, 23, 198 helicopters, 815 drones, 194 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 3,149 motor vehicles and fuel tankers and 99 units of special equipment. Russia has said its casualties were much lower, but rarely provides updates on its latest figures. The picture shows an explosion near buildings in a field area in the direction of Donetsk, Ukraine, Saturday, August 20, 2022. The video was released by the 503rd separate battalion of the Marine Corps of the Ukrainian Navy. Zenger/@503obmp Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said “Russia may try to do something particularly bad, something particularly vicious” as Ukraine prepares to celebrate 31 years of independence from the Soviet Union on Wednesday, August 24. Large gatherings have been banned in Kyiv for four days starting Monday, August 22. Ukraine’s military has warned that Russian forces are deploying warships and missile-capable submarines in the Black Sea and air defense systems in Belarus. Zaporizhzhia regional governor Valentyn Reznichenko said the city of Nikopol, which is located on the right bank of the Dnipro River, not far from the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant – the largest in Europe – was bombed overnight Sunday into Monday. The US, UK, Germany and France have called for military restraint around the Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to send a team from the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect the plant, the Elysee Palace said in a statement. Ukrainian officials said five Russian Kalibr cruise missiles were fired from the Black Sea in the Odesa region. Two were shot down by Ukrainian air defenses, while three of the Russian missiles hit rural targets and caused no casualties. Russia said on Sunday that the missiles hit an ammunition depot containing US-made HIMARS rockets, but Ukraine said the Russians hit a granary. This story was reported to Newsweek by Zenger News.
