Russia Claims Images Show Its Air Defense Systems At Work

“The Anti-aircraft missile systems of the military air defense continue around the clock to provide troops with protection.”

<p>Western MD Tor-M1 tactical air defence system crews in combat action. (Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation/Zenger).</p>

Russian air defense systems at work in Ukraine can be seen on these images.

The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that the images show the “combat work of the Western Military District crews of ‘Tor-M1’ tactical anti-aircraft missile systems.

“The Anti-aircraft missile systems of the military air defense continue around the clock to provide troops with reliable protection against attacks by enemy air targets. Tor-M1 air defense systems can hit almost all types of aircraft in their range of altitudes and ranges. These are airplanes, helicopters, cruise and ballistic missiles, as well as unmanned aerial vehicles.”

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

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation.” July 4 marks the 131st day of the invasion.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and July 4, Russia had lost about 36,200 personnel, 1,589 tanks, 3,754 armored combat vehicles, 804 artillery units, 246 multiple launch rocket systems, 105 air defense systems, 217 warplanes, 187 helicopters, 658 drones, 144 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 2,629 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 65 units of special equipment.

The leaders of dozens of countries, as well as international organisations and companies are gathering in Switzerland to elaborate a “Marshall Plan” roadmap to rebuild Ukraine after the war is over.

Russia has said that it has captured the eastern Ukrainian city of Lysychansk, in the Sievierodonetsk Raion of the Luhansk Oblast region. This has now also been confirmed by Ukraine’s military, who said they had withdrawn their troops from the city after heavy fighting in order to “preserve the lives of the defenders”.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukrainian forces would retake the city “thanks to the increase in the supply of modern weapons.”

Western MD Tor-M1 tactical air defence system crews in combat action. (Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation/Zenger).

The fall of Lysychansk comes just over a week after the nearby city of Sievierodonetsk fell to the Russians.

Sloviansk, an eastern Ukrainian city in the Donetsk Oblast region, was hit by shelling on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of at least six people, with 20 others injured, according to the city’s mayor, Vadim Lyakh.

The Ukrainian Governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Haidai, has said that Russian forces are now likely to shift their focus to the neighboring Donetsk region.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has visited Kyiv, with Australia vowing to send over $100 million in new aid to Ukraine.

Turkish authorities have detained a Russian cargo ship carrying grain allegedly stolen from Ukraine. The ship is said to contain over 7,000 tons of grain that Russian officials said would be sent to “friendly” countries.

Ukraine has dismissed Russian claims that its forces targeted civilian areas in the city of Belgorod, in Russia, killing three people.

Western MD Tor-M1 tactical air defence system crews in combat action. (Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation/Zenger).

Russian state media has claimed that two more Britons captured by Russian troops in Ukraine have been charged with mercenary activities. They have been named as Dylan Healy, a chef who had been volunteering as an aid worker, and Andrew Hill, who was shown by Russia in military uniform.

The announcement comes after two other British men, Shaun Pinner and Aiden Aslin, were sentenced to death last month.

The European Court of Human Rights intervened, demanding for the sentences not to be carried out but this was rejected by Russia, saying that it would not be implementing the court’s decisions anymore and that the decision to execute the men lies with the pro-Russian, so-called Donetsk People’s Republic in Ukraine’s eastern border region.