Russia has said that it has destroyed Ukrainian lightly armoured vehicles and artillery pieces using self-propelled howitzers.

The images show a Russian self-propelled howitzer manoeuvring into position before it is seen repeatedly opening fire on unseen targets.

It can then be seen manoeuvring away to avoid return fire as the footage ends.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Monday, 22nd May, along with a statement claiming: “Crews of ‘Msta-S’ self-propelled howitzers destroyed lightly armoured vehicles and artillery pieces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”

The Russian MoD added: “In the course of a special military operation, the gunners of the Western Group of Forces continue to destroy enemy fortifications, destroy his command posts, weapons and military equipment. Thus, the crews of 2S19M2 ‘Msta-S’ 152-mm self-propelled howitzers hit lightly armoured vehicles and an artillery battery of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

“Having received the coordinates of the targets from the scouts, the unit of self-propelled guns advanced to the firing positions. The crews promptly carried out guidance and opened fire to kill, as a result of which all targets were successfully destroyed.

“Firing was carried out with high-explosive fragmentation ammunition at a distance of more than 20 kilometres correction of fire and control of target destruction was carried out using unmanned aerial vehicles.

“After completing the fire mission, the unit of self-propelled howitzers 2S19M2 “Msta-S” left the firing line as soon as possible. For security purposes, the gunners change their positions and cover dozens of times a day.”

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

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 453rd day of the full-scale war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 22nd May 2023, Russia had lost about 203,880 personnel, 3,785 tanks, 7,407 armoured combat vehicles, 3,278 artillery units, 565 multiple launch rocket systems, 327 air defence systems, 309 warplanes, 294 helicopters, 2,830 drones, 1,011 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 6,129 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 427 units of special equipment.

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

Moscow has claimed to have captured Bakhmut but Ukraine has said that its forces still have a foothold in the embattled eastern Ukrainian city and were attempting to encircle it.

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the notorious Russian mercenary organisation Wagner, has posed with soldiers among the ruins and claimed to have control of the whole city.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has congratulated Prigozhin and Russia’s military forces on “the completion of the operation to liberate Artyomovsk”, which is the Soviet name for Bakhmut.

But Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, speaking of the G7 summit in Japan, said on Sunday: “Bakhmut is not occupied by the Russian Federation as of today. There are no two or three interpretations of this.”

Hanna Maliar, Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister, has said that Kyiv’s forces were still “holding the defence” in part of the city, adding: “Our forces have taken the city in a semi-encirclement, which gives us the opportunity to destroy the enemy.”

She also said: “The enemy has to defend himself in the part of the city he controls.”

Zelensky has secured new military aid from the United States while at the G7 summit in Japan, with US President Joe Biden telling Zelensky that the United States is doing everything possible to bolster the country’s defences.

Biden also said that he had assurances from Zelensky that he would not use F-16 fighter jets provided by the West to venture into Russian territory.

Biden added that F-16 fighter jets could however be used “wherever Russian troops are within Ukraine and the area.”

Speaking at the G7, Zelensky said that his plan to end Russia’s war in his country was “an obvious expression of rationality”.

He also thanked Western leaders for making it possible to achieve “a level of cooperation which ensures that democracy, international law, and freedom are respected.”