Russia has claimed that it has taken out Ukrainian aerial targets over Bakhmut using surface and missiles, as these images purport to show.

The footage reportedly shows Russian Strela-10 systems firing missiles into the sky and hitting Ukrainian UAVs.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Monday, October 16, along with a statement claiming: 'Strela-10 SAM systems eliminate aerial targets in the special military operation zone.'

The Russian MoD added: 'Russian Airborne Troops are in control of the sky over Artyomovsk preventing the enemy from conducting any surveillance and dropping ammunition on Russian positions.

'Ivanovo-based paratroopers have equipped a system of aerial surveillance posts which make it possible to timely detect aircraft of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. After that, the Strela-10 SAM systems acquire aerial targets and engage them.

'Air defence crews of Ivanovo-based paratroopers eliminate dozens of unmanned aerial vehicles of the enemy on a daily basis. Moreover, one of the Strela-10 crews have managed to neutralise about 50 enemy UAVs in one month.'

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, in what the Kremlin is still calling a 'special military operation'.