So-Called DPR Claims Their Artillerymen Destroyed Ukrainian Fortified Positions

These images allegedly show artillerymen of the so-called Donetsk People's Republic destroying Ukrainian fortifications using a towed howitzer.

In the footage, pro-Russian soldiers positioned behind a camouflaged D-20 gun-howitzer can be seen loading up on shells and allegedly preparing for combat.

Then they can be seen pointing the weapon towards the sky and firing off dozens of rounds at unseen targets.

The footage was obtained by Newsflash from the People's Militia of the so-called DPR on 1st January, along with a statement: "Artillerymen of the 1st Slavic brigade destroy enemy fortified areas.

"The fire is carried out from D-20 guns with a calibre of 152 millimetres."

The 152-mm gun-howitzer M1955, also known as the D-20, is a Soviet-made, manually loaded artillery piece that fires powerful 152-mm shells.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 313th day of the invasion.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 2nd January, Russia had lost about 107,440 personnel, 3,031 tanks, 6,093 armoured combat vehicles, 2,027 artillery units, 423 multiple launch rocket systems, 213 air defence systems, 283 warplanes, 269 helicopters, 1,836 drones, 723 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,725 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 181 units of special equipment.

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

Ukrainian air defence systems destroyed nine Iranian-made Shahed drones over the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions by the early hours of Monday, according to the regional military command.

Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 45 Shaheds were "shot down on the first night of the year".

Several waves of Russian drones targeted critical infrastructure in Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv early on Monday, according to Ukrainian officials, and have wounded at least one person.

Debris from a destroyed drone wounded a 19-year-old boy, the city’s mayor reported.

And the governor of the Kyiv region, Oleksiy Kuleba, said: "It is loud in the region and in the capital: night drone attacks."

"Russians launched several waves of [Iranian-made] Shahed drones. Targeting critical infrastructure facilities," Kuleba added.

At least 20 aerial targets were shot down by Ukraine’s air defences, according to the city military administration.

Continuous Russian missile and drone attacks brought a harrowing start to 2023 upon Ukraine after a deadly shelling on New Year’s Eve killed at least three civilians, according to official reports.

President Zelenskyy said his only wish for Ukrainians for 2023 is for victory and freedom: "I want to wish all of us one thing – victory."

While President Vladimir Putin said Russia will "never give in" to the west, and is fighting for its "motherland, truth and justice" so that "Russia’s security can be guaranteed".

Russia claimed its deadly strikes against Ukraine on New Year’s Eve were targeting its neighbour’s drone production.

A children’s hospital was allegedly one of the buildings that are said to have been hit during the Russian attacks.