These images show Ukrainian soldiers preparing a Stugna-P anti-tank guided missile system before opening fire on a Russian military vehicle.

The images then appear to show other Russian military vehicles and tanks being destroyed by the unit.

The images were obtained from the Command of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces on Tuesday, 8th November, along with a statement saying: “The anti-tankers of the Mykolaiv brigade of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces destroyed 30 units of the enemy’s equipment.

“The anti-tank unit of the Mykolaiv 79th Separate Assault Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces continues to destroy enemy equipment in the Donbas region.

“Yes, the other day anti-tankers burned a tank belonging to the Russian invaders with a well-aimed shot from an anti-tank guided missile.

“Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the unit has destroyed more than 30 enemy tanks and armoured fighting vehicles.”

The Command quoted the commander of the anti-tank unit as saying: “The main secret of the success of this successful battle was the training of our combat staff of the Stugna ATGM and the clear coordination of their actions with aerial reconnaissance, thanks to whose data we knew about all directions of movement of the enemy’s armoured vehicles.”

The Command added: “Death to the Russian invaders! Glory to Air Assault Forces! Glory to Ukraine!”

The images and statement were also relayed by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and by the Office of Strategic Communications (StratCom) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 258th day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 8th November, Russia had lost about 77,170 personnel, 2,786 tanks, 5,654 armoured combat vehicles, 1,791 artillery units, 391 multiple launch rocket systems, 203 air defence systems, 278 warplanes, 260 helicopters, 1,476 drones, 399 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,216 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 159 units of special equipment.

Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that Ukraine’s military forces are progressively pushing back Russian troops in the east and the south of the country.

Zelensky said “we are gradually moving forward” and added that Russians on the eastern front in the Donetsk region “die by the hundreds every day”.

The Ukrainian energy operator has told citizens to prepare for more blackouts as it tries to reduce strain on parts of the energy infrastructure that have been damaged by Russian missile and drone attacks.

Ukraine’s Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has said that the country has received more air defence systems from its Western allies, saying: “These weapons will significantly strengthen the Ukrainian army and will make our skies safer.”

Ukraine has accused Russian soldiers of occupying and looting empty homes in the city of Kherson in the south of the country in preparation for street fighting as Ukraine tries to retake the city from Moscow’s forces.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that 50,000 Russian soldiers who were called up as part of his mobilisation push are now fighting within combat units in Ukraine.

Putin added that a total of 80,000 troops from his mobilisation initiative are now “in the zone of the special military operation”, which is what the Kremlin calls the war in Ukraine, with the remainder of the nearly 320,000 recently mobilised forces currently training in Russia.

There is reportedly growing anger in Russia about what is being perceived as Putin’s willingness to throw hundreds of poorly trained conscripts on the frontlines.

Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Ukraine’s president, has said that his country had never refused to negotiate with Moscow and was prepared to negotiate with its future leader, but not with Putin.

Podolyak said: “Ukraine has never refused to negotiate. Our negotiating position is known and open.”

He added: “Is Putin ready? Obviously not. Therefore, we are constructive in our assessment: we will talk with the next leader.”