Russia has said that it has fired on Ukrainian positions on the front lines using self-propelled ‘Gvozdika’ howitzers.

The footage purports to show one of the Russian howitzers making its way into battle.

Soldiers can then be seen calibrating some aiming tools before the war machine points its long gun at an unseen target.

Shells can then be seen being fired by the Russian howitzer, with Moscow claiming that it hit Ukrainian military positions.

The war machine can then be seen manoeuvring to a new location to avoid return fire.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Tuesday, 6th December, along with a statement claiming: “Crews of 122-mm ‘Gvozdika’ self-propelled howitzers of the artillery unit of the Airborne Forces, waging a counter-battery war, hit all types of fortifications of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, armoured vehicles, as well as launch sites for unmanned aircraft and accumulations of enemy manpower.

“After completing the combat mission, the crews of self-propelled howitzers move to other firing positions and continue to deliver accurate artillery strikes on the positions of Ukrainian nationalists.

“Reconnaissance of targets and correction of fire on enemy positions is carried out in close cooperation with the crews of unmanned aerial vehicles.”

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 286th day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 6th December, Russia had lost about 92,200 personnel, 2,929 tanks, 5,905 armoured combat vehicles, 1,915 artillery units, 395 multiple launch rocket systems, 211 air defence systems, 281 warplanes, 264 helicopters, 1,587 drones, 592 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,505 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.

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his country is switching to emergency shutdowns to stabilise the electricity grid after Russia launched a fresh wave of missiles at civilian infrastructure on Monday.

The Ukrainian General Staff has said that over 60 Russian missiles were shot down.

President Zelensky said that many regions were affected, with the local authorities warning that approximately half of the Kyiv region would be without power over the next few days.

At least four people were killed in the Russian strikes on Monday.

The Russian Ministry of Defence has claimed that Ukrainian drones attacked two airbases in Ryazan and Saratov in south-central Russia.

They said that three servicemen had been killed and four more had been wounded, with two aircraft left damaged.

Ukraine has not yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, which would be its deepest yet inside Russia’s borders since the beginning of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February.

The NGO Statewatch has said that Canadian-made parts have been found in Iranian-made Shahed 136 ‘kamikaze’ drones.

Statewatch also said that components from 30 American and European companies were also found to have been used in the drones.

Iran has been accused of supplying Russia with a large quantity of Shahed 136 drones.

Moscow has claimed that while the new Western-led price cap on Russian oil will destabilise the world’s energy markets, it would not affect its invasion of Ukraine.

Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia was preparing a response to the move by the G7 and allies.

John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, said that the oil price cap would not have any long-term impact on global oil prices.