Footage released by Ukrainian military officials reportedly shows a “kamikaze” drone slamming into a Russian tank, turning it into a ball of smoke and fire.
Zenger News received the video on Tuesday from the Special Operations Forces (SSO) – Ukraine’s special forces.
The SSO said (in Ukrainian): “Kamikaze drones Special Operations Forces destroy the Russian occupiers!”
Kamikaze drones used by the Ukrainian special forces are said to have destroyed Russian tanks in May 2022. @usofcom/Zenger
“SSO operators in Ukraine have developed skills of owning a different kind of modern weapons. An example of this is another destruction of an enemy tank along with the enemy’s manpower. According to our soldiers, the Russian occupiers quietly drank alcohol at one of the positions that sat on the armor of their tank. However, the usual Russian occupation was abruptly interrupted by an unexpected air attack. A modern kamikaze drone, equipped with a powerful explosive, flew straight into the tank, causing irreparable damage to the enemy. The entire process of destroying the enemy was filmed by a camera located on the killer drone.
“This video is released to the general public for the first time, but it is worth noting that the combat use of kamikaze UAVs during the war with Russian invaders is a constant practice for the SSO of Ukraine. This is a good example of how the help of foreign partners together with the training and professionalism of our soldiers lead to positive results at the front.
“UPD: Two crews destroyed.”
The Kyiv-based SSO, established in January 2016, did not specify where in Ukraine the strike took place.
The footage comes as the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) gave its latest update on enemy casualties, saying Russia lost about 29,350 troops between February 24 and May 24.
It added that Russia also lost 1,302 tanks, 3,194 armored fighting vehicles, 606 artillery systems, 201 multiple missile systems, 93 anti-aircraft systems, 205 aircraft, 170 helicopters, 2,213 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, 13 ships, 480 unmanned aerial vehicles, 43 units of special equipment and 112 cruise missiles in the same period.
Meanwhile, according to the British Ministry of Defense, Russian forces are currently trying to encircle the eastern cities of Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk and Rubishne.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian forces were trying to destroy “everything living” in the contested Donbass region.
He reiterated that his country was ready to exchange prisoners with Russia.
This story was provided to Newsweek by Zenger News.