This footage allegedly shows Russian soldiers shelling Ukrainian military positions using self-propelled guns.
The images show a couple of Russian Msta-S howitzers being positioned in a forested area as crews allegedly prepare for combat.
Then they can be seen aiming towards the sky and firing at unseen targets.
After completing the alleged combat work, the soldiers can be seen moving out of the wooded area as they purportedly are “constantly changing the location of the firing lines”.
The footage was obtained by Newsflash from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 2nd January, along with a statement: “Artillery of the Central Military District inflicts defeat on the enemy from different directions, constantly changing the location of the firing lines.
“The accuracy of the fire is provided by advanced spotters from among the military personnel of intelligence units and UAV operators.
“Crews of self-propelled artillery strike personnel, fortifications, equipment and armoured vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. They also carry out fire cover for the actions of the ground forces.”
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 313th day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 2nd January, Russia had lost about 107,440 personnel, 3,031 tanks, 6,093 armoured combat vehicles, 2,027 artillery units, 423 multiple launch rocket systems, 213 air defence systems, 283 warplanes, 269 helicopters, 1,836 drones, 723 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,725 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 181 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukrainian air defence systems destroyed nine Iranian-made Shahed drones over the Dnipropetrovsk and Zaporizhzhia regions by the early hours of Monday, according to the regional military command.
Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that 45 Shaheds were “shot down on the first night of the year”.
Several waves of Russian drones targeted critical infrastructure in Ukraine’s capital of Kyiv early on Monday, according to Ukrainian officials, and have wounded at least one person.
Debris from a destroyed drone wounded a 19-year-old boy, the city’s mayor reported.
And the governor of the Kyiv region, Oleksiy Kuleba, said: “It is loud in the region and in the capital: night drone attacks.”
“Russians launched several waves of [Iranian-made] Shahed drones. Targeting critical infrastructure facilities,” Kuleba added.
At least 20 aerial targets were shot down by Ukraine’s air defences, according to the city military administration.
Continuous Russian missile and drone attacks brought a harrowing start to 2023 upon Ukraine after a deadly shelling on New Year’s Eve killed at least three civilians, according to official reports.
President Zelenskyy said his only wish for Ukrainians for 2023 is for victory and freedom: “I want to wish all of us one thing – victory.”
While President Vladimir Putin said Russia will “never give in” to the west, and is fighting for its “motherland, truth and justice” so that “Russia’s security can be guaranteed”.
Russia claimed its deadly strikes against Ukraine on New Year’s Eve were targeting its neighbour’s drone production.
A children’s hospital was allegedly one of the buildings that are said to have been hit during the Russian attacks.
