These images show Belarusian volunteers for Ukraine restoring and trying out a captured infantry fighting vehicle they are going to use against the Russian invaders.
The footage shows the captured Russian war machine being put through its paces in Ukraine after having been captured and restored to full use.
The images show the Russian war machine now sporting the colours of the Belarusian volunteer regiment and of Ukraine, with it seen opening fire on mock targets and driving at speed on down a road.
The vehicle, reportedly a BMP-2, which is an amphibious infantry fighting vehicle that was first used in the Soviet Union in the 1980s, can be seen with Belarusian volunteers sitting on top of it as it drives along and tweaking its machinery as they get it back into full working condition.
At one point, a young Ukrainian girl appears to bring the Belarusian soldiers a picture of a heart drawn in Ukraine’s colours of blue and yellow.
The images were obtained from the Kastus Kalinouski Regiment, a group of Belarusian opposition volunteers formed to help defend Ukraine against the Russian invaders, on Wednesday, 7th December, along with a statement saying that the BMP was a “trophy”.
The Regiment added: “The Kalinowski Regiment has a wonderful addition! Our soldiers restored the trophy BMP of the occupiers and very soon, as they say, ‘they will have nightmares about it’!
“Long live Belarus and Glory to Ukraine!”
The Kastus Kalinouski Regiment is a military formation within the Armed Forces of Ukraine that was created in March 2022.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 287th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 7th December, Russia had lost about 92,740 personnel, 2,935 tanks, 5,909 armoured combat vehicles, 1,923 artillery units, 395 multiple launch rocket systems, 211 air defence systems, 281 warplanes, 264 helicopters, 1,601 drones, 592 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,526 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 163 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
The governor of the Russian region of Kursk Oblast, Roman Starovoyt has said that a drone attack has set fire to an oil storage tank at an airfield some 280 kilometres (175 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
The attack comes a day after two military airfields were also reportedly attacked deep inside Russia’s territory.
One of the attacks reportedly hit the Engels airfield in the Saratov region, which is where Russia houses some of its strategic nuclear bombers.
Kyiv has not directly claimed responsibility for the attacks, with the United States saying on Tuesday that it had not “enabled” Ukraine to carry out strikes inside Russia.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: “We have neither encouraged nor enabled the Ukrainians to strike inside of Russia.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly convened his Security Council following the alleged drone strikes.
The Kremlin has said that Putin has met with senior officials to discuss “domestic security”, adding that Moscow was taking “necessary” steps to protect itself from further attacks.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that he agrees with Blinken that there needs to be peace in Ukraine, but he added that Russia does not see peace talks as a possible option “at the moment”.
Peskov added that for peace talks to be able to take place, Russia would first need to achieve the goals of its “special military operation”.
The Ministry of Health of Ukraine has requested that regional authorities suspend non-essential surgeries at the country’s hospitals due to the ongoing power blackouts caused by waves of Russian missile strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
EU officials have said that they will make sure that Ukraine gets EUR 18 billion in financial aid. The move comes after Hungary said it would block the funds from being released, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also accused of “holding hostage” funds destined for Ukraine’s hospitals.
Orban’s government has been accused of “cynical obstructionism” after Hungary said on Tuesday that it would block the EUR 18 billion in aid.
