A video released by pro-Russian fighters purports to show Ukrainian targets being identified by a drone before the troops unleash an attack.
The People’s Militia of the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) praised the benefits of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for reconnaissance work, allowing their troops to advance on enemy positions with effective cover.
The People’s Militia said Saturday: “In their combat work, artillerymen of the People’s Militia of the DPR closely cooperated with the operators of unmanned aerial vehicles, which allows us to not only detect enemy positions, but also to hit the manpower and fortifications of Ukrainian militants.”
Press Service of the UNM DPR/Zenger
A DPR commanding officer said: “Unmanned aerial vehicles are an integral element of aerial reconnaissance, because it is impossible to ensure high-quality advancement of troops without knowing what lies ahead, what awaits our fighters and their commanders.
“Without knowing the terrain, it is impossible to move forwards. We have experience using such drones for at least three years.
“They prove to be very effective, even for radio suppression. At this stage, we organize additional reconnaissance of enemy targets including their deployment sites, equipment sites, firing positions, and main strongholds.”
Zenger News contacted Russian and Ukrainian officials for comment but had not received a reply at the time of writing.
Russian troops invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation.” June 6 marks the 103rd day of the campaign.
From February 24 to June 6, the total combat losses of Russian troops stand at around 31,250 personnel, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Ukrainian military also claims that Russia has lost 1,386 tanks, 3,400 armored fighting vehicles, 690 artillery systems, 207 multiple launch rocket systems, 96 anti-aircraft systems, 211 warplanes, 176 helicopters, 2,395 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, 13 vessels, 551 unmanned aerial vehicles, 53 units of special equipment, and 125 cruise missiles.
Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Center for Strategic Communications (StratCom) claimed Monday that Russian Major General Roman Kutuzov was killed in a battle near Popasna in the Luhansk region.
StratCom said: “Exclusive. Meet. Commander of the DNR’s 1st Army Corps (of the orcs), Major General Roman Kutuzov has been officially denazified and demilitarized.”
In related news, the United Kingdom has announced that it is sending its first long-range missiles to Ukraine.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned of more attacks in Ukraine if the West sends long-range weapons.
Last week, the Russian Ministry of Defense declared that its Yars mobile missile systems, which can carry nuclear warheads and which boast a reported range of over 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles), were performing “intensive maneuvering operations on combat patrol routes in the Ivanovo Region,” east of the Russian capital Moscow.
This story was provided to Newsweek by Zenger News.