These images reportedly show Russian infantry practising to storm fortified buildings with the help of tanks in an urban setting in winter conditions at training grounds in Belarus.
The footage begins by showing a Russian tank advancing on a snow-covered terrain and firing as it goes.
Russian soldiers can then be seen running nearby as the group works together to secure buildings in an urban setting on the training facility’s grounds.
Russian tanks can be seen opening fire at mock enemies near the buildings as the soldiers storm them and clear them.
The troops can be seen running from building to building, ducking behind corners for cover and gradually advancing through the snow, supported by the armour.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Monday, 12th December, along with a statement claiming: “At the training grounds in the Republic of Belarus, the military personnel of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, which are part of the regional grouping of forces, continue the course of intensive combat training.
“At present, motorised rifles of the Western Military District (ZVO) are practising an assault on fortified areas. With the help of armoured vehicles, they block a mock enemy in a populated area and, acting in small groups, conduct training street battles. Classes for combat training and coordination of units are held both in daylight and at night.
“At the Belarusian training grounds, military personnel fire from all types of small arms, as well as from mortars; they hone their driving skills of military vehicles, pass psychological obstacle courses, study tactical medicine and other disciplines.”
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 289th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 12th December, Russia had lost about 94,760 personnel, 2,966 tanks, 5,928 armoured combat vehicles, 1,929 artillery units, 397 multiple launch rocket systems, 211 air defence systems, 281 warplanes, 264 helicopters, 1,617 drones, 592 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,544 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 169 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Serhiy Haidai, the Governor-in-exile of the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine, has said that Ukrainian forces have hit the headquarters of Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, a hotel in the city of Kadiivka.
Ukraine attacked a barracks in the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol, in the Zaporizhzhia region of south-eastern Ukraine, over the weekend.
Ukrainian sources have said that there have been numerous Russian casualties as a result, with witnesses saying that they heard 10 explosions during the attack, which was reportedly carried out using HIMARS rockets.
The strikes on the city were reportedly part of a wider wave of attacks on several Russian bases.
Emergency crews are working around the clock to ease electricity shortages all over Ukraine after further Russian attacks.
Russian forces reportedly used Iranian-made drones on Saturday to hit two electricity plants in Odesa, leaving 1.5 million people without power.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Odesa, a key port city, was undergoing frequent blackouts and that the capital Kyiv was still experiencing “very difficult” conditions.
Local authorities in Kherson said that two people have been killed and another five wounded after Russian troops shelled the area.
Governor Yaroslav Yanushevich said: “The enemy again attacked the residential quarters of Kherson.”
He said that the Russian forces had hit a maternity ward, a cafe and apartment buildings on Saturday.
President Zelensky has thanked US President Joe Biden for the “unprecedented defence and financial assistance” of the United States, saying: “It helps not only to succeed on the battlefield, but also to maintain the stability of our nation’s economy.”
He added that Russian missile strikes had destroyed approximately 50 per cent of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
A neo-Nazi paramilitary group with ties to the Kremlin has reportedly asked its members to provide intelligence reports on border and military activity in Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia, which used to be part of the Soviet Union and are now part of NATO.
‘Task Force Rusich’, who are currently fighting in Ukraine on behalf of Moscow and who also have ties to the Wagner Group asked that members send information relating to border posts and military movements in the three Baltic states.
