These images show a fearless Ukrainian female soldier digging a trench through the mud as loud blasts of Russian bombing go off in the background.
In the footage, the brave soldier appears to be hard at work with a shovel as she digs deep into the muddy ground and in the rain.
Then, she suddenly stops to take cover as an incoming Russian shell can be heard exploding nearby.
The footage was obtained by Newsflash from the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 30th December, along with a statement: “Courageous female defenders, on an equal footing with men, are fighting for freedom for our country!”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 310th day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 30th December, Russia had lost about 105,250 personnel, 3,026 tanks, 6,059 armoured combat vehicles, 2,010 artillery units, 423 multiple launch rocket systems, 212 air defence systems, 283 warplanes, 268 helicopters, 1,740 drones, 711 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,683 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 180 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Residents of Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, have been urged to head to air raid shelters as sirens were going off across the city as Russia’s aerial assaults shook the country.
The city’s military administration reported that five Shahed drones entered Kyiv’s airspace, and debris from one struck an administrative building in the Holosiiv district.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said air defences in Ukraine repelled 54 Russian missiles and 11 drones.
Russian forces are said to have primarily struck infrastructure facilities, in the Lviv, Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions causing widespread disruptions to energy, heating, and water supplies.
More than 18 residential buildings and 10 critical infrastructure installations were reportedly destroyed during the wave of Russian missile strikes.
Many Ukrainian regions are suffering power outages, with the situation being “especially difficult” in Kyiv, Odesa and Kherson, according to President Zelenskyy.
And Belarus’ Defence Ministry said its air defences shot down a Ukrainian S-300 missile in a field in Russia’s latest attacks on Ukraine.
US President Joe Biden signed a USD 1.7 trillion (GBP 1.4 trillion) spending bill that includes emergency support for Ukraine.
The UK said it has given Ukraine more than 1,000 metal detectors and 100 kits to deactivate bombs to help clear minefields in a bid to provide military support for the country in the conflict with Russia.
Britain’s Defence Minister Ben Wallace said the UK would grant GBP 2.2 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2023.
