These images purport to show mobilised Russian soldiers practising their night shooting skills and training grounds near the south-western Russian city of Kazan.
The footage shows a group of Russian soldiers lying on their stomachs on the snow-covered ground and firing with assault rifles downrange at mock targets.
The images then cut to the scene as seen from a drone, with the gunfire lighting up the night sky as a flare is launched to show them where to shoot.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday, 1st December, along with a statement claiming: “The mobilised servicemen at the training ground near Kazan are improving the coordination of actions and individual training when performing night combat firing from regular weapons as part of squads.
“During the exercises, they fire at various types of training targets that imitate enemy manpower and equipment at a distance of 100 to 400 metres. Training of personnel takes place both in the daytime and at night under various weather conditions.
“All activities of the combat training course for the mobilised are planned and are taking into account the experience of a special military operation.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 281st day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 1st December, Russia had lost about 89,440 personnel, 2,915 tanks, 5,877 armoured combat vehicles, 1,904 artillery units, 395 multiple launch rocket systems, 210 air defence systems, 280 warplanes, 261 helicopters, 1,562 drones, 531 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,441 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.
A Ukrainian embassy worker in Madrid has been lightly injured in an explosion after opening a letter bomb addressed to the Ukrainian ambassador to Spain on Wednesday.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has urged all Ukrainian embassies abroad to strengthen their security “urgently”.
Kuleba has also said that Ukraine needs US-made Patriot missile defence systems to protect civilian infrastructure, which is under heavy attack from Russia.
He added that he would be looking into the issue with the German government. The comments come after former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned NATO against providing Ukraine with the systems.
Ursula von der Leyen, the President of the European Commission, has proposed the formation of a special war crimes tribunal to investigate and prosecute Russia for its actions in Ukraine.
The tribunal would be set up by the European Union and backed by the United Nations.
Von der Leyen said: “We are ready to start working with the international community to get the broadest international support possible for this specialised court.”
The Ukrainian military has said that Russian forces have tried to advance in eastern Ukraine and targeted the city of Kherson in the south of the country with tank, artillery and mortar fire. Ukraine’s General Staff said that it had killed over 500 Russian soldiers in the last day alone.
The Ukrainian State Emergency Service has said that there have been 106 residential fires in the last day as civilians try to heat their homes, leading to nine people losing their lives.
Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Minister of Defence, has said that his country will focus on new infrastructure for nuclear weapons in 2023. This includes facilities to accommodate new missile systems.
Shoigu said: “When preparing the list of major construction facilities for 2023, special attention will be paid to construction in the interests of the strategic nuclear forces.”
The City Council of the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa has decided to move a monument dedicated to Empress Catherine the Great of Russia to a new location as it has been repeatedly vandalised since the beginning of the Russian invasion.
