Russia has said that its paratroopers repelled a Ukrainian push using grenade launchers and heavy machine guns.

The footage purports to show the Russian soldiers fighting on the frontlines.

The images begin by showing Russian soldiers reloading their weapons with ammunition before discussing their course of action.

They can then be seen marching in a forested area before the images cut to them engaging in a firefight, reportedly with Ukrainian forces, who are seen in the footage.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Monday, 20th March, along with a statement claiming: “Russian paratroopers repelled a counterattack of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”

The Russian MoD added: “in one of the areas of the special military operation, the Airborne Troops reinforcement unit repelled the counterattack of the Ukrainian formations.

“With the receipt of a combat mission, the paratroopers advanced to the indicated area, previously occupied by assault detachments of the Airborne Forces, where they began to equip a strong point.

“In the course of its preparation, the observer noticed an armed group of militants approaching the positions of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which he immediately reported to the unit commander. It was decided to eliminate the enemy.

“Demonstrating courage, bravery and selflessness, the paratroopers destroyed the Ukrainian armed group with aimed fire from small arms, AGS-17 ‘Flame’ automatic grenade launchers and ‘Kord’ heavy machine guns, preventing it from approaching the positions of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.”

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 390th day of the full-scale war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 20th March 2023, Russia had lost about 165,610 personnel, 3,537 tanks, 6,869 armoured combat vehicles, 2,577 artillery units, 507 multiple launch rocket systems, 270 air defence systems, 305 warplanes, 290 helicopters, 2,160 drones, 907 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,416 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 265 units of special equipment.

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

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague against Russian President Vladimir Putin is a “turning point” in the ongoing conflict.

He said that the warrant signified a “truly significant international legal result for Ukraine, for justice […].”

Zelensky added that it represents “the moment after which it becomes undeniable that the end of this aggression for Russia will be the full range of its responsibility.”

Ministers of justice from over 40 countries are set to meet in London to hold discussions about boosting support for the ICC regarding its investigations into Russian war crimes in Ukraine.

Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic, who has previously stated he has a close personal relationship with Putin, has criticised the international arrest warrant against him, saying that it will prolong the conflict.

He said: “I think issuing an arrest warrant for Putin, not to go into legal matters, will have bad political consequences and it says that there is a great reluctance to talk about peace [and] about truce.”

Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to begin a state visit to Russia, reportedly seeking to present his country as a global peacemaker and strengthen ties with Russia.

Putin has reportedly visited a command post located in the southern Russian city of Rostov-on-Don, according to the Russian state-owned news agency TASS.

The move comes after Putin visited Russian-occupied Mariupol and Crimea.

The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine has said that Putin visited Mariupol “under the cover of night” to avoid showing the Russian people the scale of the destruction in the city.

The Ukrainian MoD said that “darkness allows them to highlight what he wants to show, and keeps […] It’s few surviving inhabitants away from prying eyes.”

There is reportedly a shortage of explosives in Europe including gunpowder, plastic explosives and TNT, which could mean that Europe’s defence industry is hampered when it comes to meeting orders from the European Union to supply Ukraine with ammunition.