Video shows Ukraine ambushing Russian tank convoy featuring a thermobaric weapon, forcing a retreat

• Ukraine on Thursday released drone footage of an ambush of a Russian armored convoy near Kyiv.
• At least 21 Russian military vehicles, including a thermobaric weapon, were caught in the attack.

Ukraine's defense intelligence agency released a video on Thursday showing the destruction and retreat of a Russian column of tanks near Kyiv. Several news agencies said they verified the footage.

Ukraine claimed that the Russian regiment's commander, Col. Andrei Zakharov, was killed in the operation, though this has not been independently confirmed.

The agency said the 45-second montage, filmed by drone, showed Russian tank movements in the suburb of Skybyn, about 20 miles from central Kyiv. The investigative collective Bellingcat said it also confirmed the location.

A Sky News analysis described the footage as showing two tanks of indeterminate nationality approaching Skybyn.

Sky News said the footage went on to show Russian tanks on the side of the road. They are later seen on fire.

This was intercut with footage of a long column of tanks heading south into the village. Among them was a vehicle that Sky News identified as a TOS-1A thermobaric rocket launcher.

In another shot, at least 21 Russian military vehicles, including tanks, armored personnel carriers, and the TOS-1A, can be seen in the village. Tread marks on the road indicate they have changed direction.

Two plumes of smoke and fire mark strikes at either end of the column:

The TOS-1A appears to fire at a target out of frame:

The UK's defense ministry on Wednesday said Russia had acknowledged using its controversial thermobaric weapons.

The video shows several Russian vehicles being hit. While under fire, the convoy can be seen moving back north.

The footage is overlaid with audio said to be of a Russian officer reporting the attack, The Guardian reported.

"Sixth regiment lost," the person says, according to The Guardian. "I cannot report about the 6th regiment. I'm collecting data. Lots of losses. They waited for us. Head of the convoy got into the ambush. Regiment commander killed in action."

The Guardian said military experts it spoke with described the video as credible.

Ukraine has published a series of such videos as part of a public-relations effort to keep international and local attention on apparent military successes against Russia.

The overall military picture remains bleak for Ukraine, however.

In briefings on Tuesday and Wednesday, a Pentagon official said that about 90% to 95% of Russian combat power remained intact.

Ukrainian authorities released similar aerial footage of strikes on military vehicles dated Tuesday. Insider confirmed that the footage had been shot outside the village of Borodyanka, on a key road to Kyiv.

A US official estimated on Wednesday that Russian forces had sustained 5,000 to 6,000 losses since the war began, CBS News reported.