Russia has rattled its nuclear sabre, saying that it has deployed its thermonuclear ‘Yars’ intercontinental ballistic missiles on combat patrol routes, as this footage purports to show.

The footage begins by showing one of Russia’s ‘Yars’ intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) exiting a facility before it is seen being escorted through a snowy forested area.

The massive missile can then be seen being covered in white camo netting before a number of ‘Yars’ missiles and their escort are seen driving along a snow-covered road.

The footage then shows more netting being placed on one of the large missile vehicles as the footage ends.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday, 2nd February, along with a statement claiming: “In the Barnaul missile formation, autonomous launchers of ‘Yars’ mobile ground-based missile systems (PGRK) were launched on combat patrol routes.

“Strategic missilemen work out tasks and introductory ones, including those for performing intensive manoeuvring actions on combat patrol routes in daylight and at night.

“The crews of the Yars PGRK will perform the tasks of completing a march up to 100 kilometres long, dispersing units with a change in field positions, their engineering equipment, organising camouflage and combat protection. Also, military personnel solve issues of countering sabotage and reconnaissance groups.

“In the course of manoeuvring operations, the units are working out the tasks of dispersing in the forest in order to increase the secrecy of the units of the Yars PGRK.

“Planned activities make it possible to check the readiness of personnel, as well as weapons and military equipment, for long-term duty on combat patrol routes.”

We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.

In military jargon, ‘combat patrol’ differs from reconnaissance in that a unit is typically more heavily armed and can be tasked with offensive action or providing security to other units. There are usually four types of ‘combat patrols’: raid, contact, ambush, and security.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 344th day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 2nd February 2023, Russia had lost about 129,030 personnel, 3,211 tanks, 6,382 armoured combat vehicles, 2,212 artillery units, 458 multiple launch rocket systems, 222 air defence systems, 293 warplanes, 284 helicopters, 1,951 drones, 796 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,064 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 200 units of special equipment.

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

At least two people have been killed and seven injured when a Russian rocket destroyed an apartment building in the city of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine, according to the regional governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko.

He said: “Rescuers, law enforcement and public utilities are working at the scene to go through the rubble of the destroyed building. It is likely that people are still underneath.”

Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said on Wednesday evening that there is fierce fighting in eastern Ukraine, with Russian troops attempting to advance near the strategic city of Lyman.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russian forces are attempting to make gains that they can show on the anniversary of the invasion, which will be on 24th February.

Zelensky said: “A definite increase has been noted in the offensive operations of the occupiers on the front in the east of our country. The situation has become tougher.”

Andrei Medvedev, a former commander of Russia’s Wagner mercenary organisation who fled to Norway, reportedly said he wished to apologise for having fought in Ukraine and wanted to bring the perpetrators of atrocities carried out in the conflict to justice.

He also said that he witnessed Russian prisoners who were taken to Ukraine to fight for Wagner being mistreated and killed.

The UK Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, has said that he does not think that it would be the right decision to send UK fighter jets to Ukraine “for now”.

He also said that it was “not a solid decision” and added: “I’ve learned two things: never rule anything in and never rule anything out.”

Germany’s Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck has said that he is not in favour of sending fighter jets to Ukraine, saying that it would probably be a step too far and could lead allies into being drawn into an outright war with Russia.

But Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged Ukraine’s western allies to “give the Ukrainians the tools to finish the job”, including main battle tanks and combat aircraft.

Speaking to the Atlantic Council in Washington DC, the UK’s former Prime Minister urged allies to “stop focusing on Putin and focus entirely on Ukraine.

Spain has reportedly said that it will begin sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, with between four and six of the tanks set to be supplied to Kyiv.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that the growing relationship between Russia and China represents a threat not only to Asia but to Europe as well.