By way of Robert Greenall & Chris Partridge, guns analystBBC News17 October 2023, 14:02 BSTUpdated 58 mins agoImage caption, A yacht membership and crusing college in Odesa have been hit by means of particles from falling drones, Ukraine saidUkraine says it has destroyed 9 Russian helicopters in an air strike on two towns within the Russian-occupied east of the rustic.A different forces remark stated an air defence machine and different apparatus have been hit, in addition to a munitions unload, within the towns of Berdyansk and Luhansk.Dozens of Russian troops have been killed or injured within the operation, it added.There was no unbiased affirmation of the assault, and no remark from the Russian army.Vladimir Rogov, the Russian-appointed governor of the occupied a part of Zaporizhzhia area, stated air defence methods “effectively intercepted enemy rockets” over Berdyansk, including that details about casualties and harm used to be being checked and could be equipped later.However an unverified video on a pro-Russian social media account – stated to were filmed in Berdyansk – seems to turn explosions and flying rockets, whilst a voice explains that an ammunition unload has been hit.Some other Russian blogger has written of an assault on an airfield with US-made ATACMS rockets, causing what the writer described as a “critical blow”, with losses of other folks and era.In September there used to be communicate of long-range ATACMS missiles being despatched to Ukraine by means of america – however such guns by no means gave the impression in that month’s listing of $325m (£266m) value of army support for Kyiv.Footage on social media counsel such guns could be in Ukraine. Pictures were posted claiming to be particles from used ATACMS on the airfield – those pictures have no longer been independently verified by means of the BBC. They point out that the ATACMS missile is the early MGM-140A variant – a shorter-range model of the circle of relatives of guns with a placing distance of round 100 miles (160km).Specifically the contract quantity stamped at the facet issues in opposition to a freelance for missiles to be finished by means of 1997.For Ukraine to have any of the ATACMS methods would without a doubt be an important spice up to its talents to strike deeper into Russian-held territory.Kyiv has been inquiring for such missiles for the reason that get started of the warfare, however the worry of escalation has seemed to deter Washington and no reliable announcement has ever been made.The Ukrainian army stated the assault on Berdyansk took place at 04:00 native time (01:00 GMT) and on Luhansk at 11:00 native time.Berdyansk is roughly 85km (53 miles) from the closest entrance line whilst Luhansk is nearly 100km away.Clashes have persevered to be reported alongside the entrance line, together with across the Ukrainian-held cities of Avdiivka, Kupyansk and Lyman, that have been coming below heavy bombardment from Russian forces in contemporary days.Ukraine’s emergency products and services say a dormitory development has been destroyed in a Russian assault at the japanese town of Slovyansk, with two other folks believed to be trapped below the rubble. In Odesa, the government say particles from Russian drones that have been shot down has broken a yacht membership and a number of other yachts, however brought about no casualties.Ukraine has been looking to take again territory occupied by means of Russia within the east and south of the rustic via a big counter-offensive, however has thus far made gradual growth.It has additionally made widespread air assaults on Russian positions because it targets to undermine Moscow’s battle effort.Russia has additionally been attacking Ukrainian positions within the east round Avdiivka and Kupyansk, however in step with Ukrainian reviews has suffered heavy casualties in contemporary days.
