Video Shows Moment Russian Rocket Launcher Destroyed In Strike

A member of Ukrainian crew with a machine gun looks out from a Marder Infantry Fighting Vehicle (IFV) 1A3 on December 7, 2023 in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. Ukraine has released a video showing the moment its forces destroyed a Russian rocket launcher in a strike.

Ukraine has released a video showing the moment its forces destroyed a Russian rocket launcher in a strike.

The aerial footage was published by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense on Thursday. It shows Russia’s RBU-6000 Smerch-2, a 213 mm caliber Soviet anti-submarine rocket launcher, being targeted and struck, causing an explosion, fire, and large plumes of smoke.

“Teamwork of the 45th Artillery Brigade and the 80th Air Assault Brigade: RBU-6000 Smerch-2 rocket launcher destroyed,” the defense ministry said.

Newsweek couldn’t independently verify when or where the footage was filmed.

The General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, which posts estimates of Russia’s troop and equipment losses, said in an update on Thursday that Moscow lost 32 artillery systems, 10 tanks, 21 armored personnel vehicles, and two cruise missiles during a single day in the ongoing war.

Kyiv also said Russia lost 780 soldiers over the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 439,970.

Neither Ukraine nor Russia releases detailed or regular casualty numbers. Newsweek has not independently verified these figures and has contacted Russia’s Defense Ministry for comment by email.

Estimates of casualty numbers vary, with Ukraine’s figures usually exceeding those of its Western allies. Moscow rarely shares information on the number of casualties it has sustained in the war. In September 2022, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said 5,937 troops had been killed since the war began.

Kyiv, like Moscow, does not provide updated information on its war casualties. A U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency assessment leaked in April 2023 said that Ukraine had suffered 124,500 to 131,000 casualties, including 15,500 to 17,500 dead.

Just over a week ago Kyiv said daily Russian troop deaths were regularly over 1,000.

Moscow’s forces are currently focusing on advancing in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region after successfully pushing out Kyiv’s forces from the town of Avdiivka in February following a months-long battle. The fight for the city earned the label of “meat grinder” due to the prolonged battles that took place, racking up high casualty counts and absorbing significant resources.

Since Kyiv’s troops withdrew from the town, which has been described as the “gateway” to the nearby Russian-occupied city of Donetsk, Russia has said its forces have captured a number of villages in the region, including Nevelske, Orlivka, Krasnoye, and the Ivanivske settlement.

Ukraine’s General Staff said Thursday its military repelled 14 Russian attacks near the settlements of Berdychi, Semenivka and Nevelske in the Donetsk region.

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