Russia Says It Has Fired At Ukrainian Military Positions With Shturm Anti-Tank System

Russia has said that it has fired at Ukrainian military positions using a Shturm anti-tank system.

The footage shows Russian soldiers firing the weapon from an armoured vehicle at an unseen target before manoeuvring away to avoid return fire.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday, 26th January, along with a statement claiming (in English): "Shturm-S self-propelled anti-tank missile system crews in combat action within special military operation

"Units of the Western Military District successfully employ the Shturm-S self-propelled systems.

"The crews deploy to positions in the crucial directions to support the advancement of the Russian Armed Forces, to counter enemy tanks and armoured personnel carriers."

We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 337th day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 26th January 2023, Russia had lost about 123,860 personnel, 3,175 tanks, 6,334 armoured combat vehicles, 2,169 artillery units, 452 multiple launch rocket systems, 220 air defence systems, 292 warplanes, 282 helicopters, 1,908 drones, 749 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 4,986 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 195 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

US President Joe Biden has approved supplying Ukraine with 31 M1 Abrams tanks.

The US President had earlier spoken over the phone with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Germany has confirmed that it is sending 14 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, with Scholz adding that he plans to supply Kyiv with additional military support.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the move and said that he was "sincerely grateful" to Scholz.

He also said that the move to supply his country with tanks was "an important step on the path to victory".

Zelensky said on Wednesday: "The key now is speed and volumes. Speed in training our forces, speed in supplying tanks to Ukraine. The numbers in tank support."

Germany will also reportedly approve other European countries sending German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, with Poland, Norway Finland, Spain and the Netherlands reportedly planning to provide Zelensky with some of their tanks.

Russia's ambassador to Germany, Sergey Nechaev, has accused Berlin of escalating the conflict to "a new level of confrontation".

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that sending M1 Abrams and Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine is "a failed plan", adding: "These tanks burn like all the rest. They are just very expensive."

Ukraine had been requesting that its Western allies send tanks for months.

President Biden said on Wednesday: "Putin expected Europe and the United States to weaken our resolve. He was wrong from the beginning and he continues to be wrong."

Biden added: "We're also giving Ukraine the parts and equipment necessary to effectively sustain these tanks in battle."

He also said: "This is about helping Ukraine defend and protect Ukrainian land. It is not an offensive threat to Russia."

The US-made M1 Abrams is one of the world's most modern battle tanks and requires extensive training to operate.

It is reportedly going to take a long time before the American tanks reach Ukraine, as they will be bought from private contractors and not sent from existing stockpiles.

But Germany's Leopard 2 tanks will reportedly come from existing stock and will arrive in two or three months. The Leopard 2 tanks are widely considered to be among the most effective battle tanks.