WAR IN UKRAINE: Ukrainians Take Out Wagner Assault Platoon Near Bakhmut

These images show how the Ukrainian Special Forces, National Guard and an artillery unit worked together to take out an assault platoon of Wagner mercenaries near Bakhmut.

The footage begins by showing a Russian soldier walking outside of a building before the area is hit by what appears to be artillery shelling.

The images, filmed from a drone, show the area to be a farmstead, with the Ukrainian military saying they had detected a platoon of Wagner mercenaries there.

The area then continues to be shelled and the buildings damaged.

The images were obtained from Military Unit 3017 of the National Guard of Ukraine on Wednesday, 1st February, along with a statement saying: "The National Guard neutralised the assault groups of the 'Wagnerians'.

"Near Bakhmut in the Donetsk region, the National Guard together with units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine destroyed assault groups of Russian mercenaries, the so-called 'Wagnerians'.

"On 27th January, in the Bakhmut region, the 3rd Operational Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine, together with the 44th Separate Artillery Brigade and a unit of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, discovered the location of the occupiers and destroyed up to a platoon of enemy personnel.

"SSO operators identified the target and adjusted the gunners' fire, fire control was carried out by Guardsmen of the 3rd Operational Brigade, fire damage was inflicted by gunners of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

"Now the Russians have no chance to gather their forces and advance further towards our positions.

"It will be recalled that the total combat losses of Russia during the entire period of the full-scale war from 24th February to 31st January approximately amounted to 127,500 personnel.

"Glory to Ukraine! Together to victory!"

The images and statement were also relayed by the National Guard of Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 344th day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 2nd February 2023, Russia had lost about 129,030 personnel, 3,211 tanks, 6,382 armoured combat vehicles, 2,212 artillery units, 458 multiple launch rocket systems, 222 air defence systems, 293 warplanes, 284 helicopters, 1,951 drones, 796 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,064 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 200 units of special equipment.

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

At least two people have been killed and seven injured when a Russian rocket destroyed an apartment building in the city of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine, according to the regional governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko.

He said: “Rescuers, law enforcement and public utilities are working at the scene to go through the rubble of the destroyed building. It is likely that people are still underneath.”

Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said on Wednesday evening that there is fierce fighting in eastern Ukraine, with Russian troops attempting to advance near the strategic city of Lyman.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russian forces are attempting to make gains that they can show on the anniversary of the invasion, which will be on 24th February.

Zelensky said: “A definite increase has been noted in the offensive operations of the occupiers on the front in the east of our country. The situation has become tougher.”

Andrei Medvedev, a former commander of Russia’s Wagner mercenary organisation who fled to Norway, reportedly said he wished to apologise for having fought in Ukraine and wanted to bring the perpetrators of atrocities carried out in the conflict to justice.

He also said that he witnessed Russian prisoners who were taken to Ukraine to fight for Wagner being mistreated and killed.

The UK Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, has said that he does not think that it would be the right decision to send UK fighter jets to Ukraine “for now”.

He also said that it was “not a solid decision” and added: “I’ve learned two things: never rule anything in and never rule anything out.”

Germany’s Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck has said that he is not in favour of sending fighter jets to Ukraine, saying that it would probably be a step too far and could lead allies into being drawn into an outright war with Russia.

But Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged Ukraine’s western allies to “give the Ukrainians the tools to finish the job”, including main battle tanks and combat aircraft.

Speaking to the Atlantic Council in Washington DC, the UK’s former Prime Minister urged allies to “stop focusing on Putin and focus entirely on Ukraine.

Spain has reportedly said that it will begin sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, with between four and six of the tanks set to be supplied to Kyiv.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that the growing relationship between Russia and China represents a threat not only to Asia but to Europe as well.