These images purport to show Russian military engineers ‘blowing up’ a mock enemy dugout and a command post during training exercises in Belarus.
The footage appears to show Russian soldiers in military vehicles manoeuvring through a forested area blanketed in snow before they deploy a pontoon bridge.
A military vehicle can then be seen driving on the pontoon bridge before the footage cuts to Russian soldiers setting charges in a mock enemy dugout.
They then blow it up, with aerial footage showing the extent of the blast radius.
The images then show debris caused by the explosion as the footage ends.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Wednesday, 14th December, along with a statement claiming: “Military engineers of the Western Military District are working out their standards at the training grounds in the Republic of Belarus.
“This special type of soldier can support the advancing army in a variety of ways and means. So, after reconnaissance of the area and the selection of a safe area, TMM – a heavy mechanised bridge based on a KAMAZ, begins to deploy in order to restore interrupted traffic in 15 minutes.
The Russian MoD then quotes the commander of the road engineering platoon as saying: “At the moment, we are working out the standard for assembling a multi-span bridge from the TMM kit. This set is intended for the device of bridge crossings over obstacles, for the passage of vehicles, both caterpillar and wheeled. The assembly of these bridges takes place in 4 stages. At this stage, there is a standard. Our trainees are fully prepared to meet these intervals.
“Time is money, and in our version it is life, therefore, in order not to disrupt the task, it is necessary to exceed this standard, which will save the lives of those involved in the assembly of the bridge, and to skip the column so that it does not pile up in one place, but it was advancing in a straight line in the right direction.”
The Russian MoD added: “The structure is 40 metres long, a little less than 4 metres wide. Strong, stable, and in some cases irreplaceable.
“A heavy mechanised bridge consists of several spans, designed to transfer troops from one bank to another across small rivers or ravines. Its carrying capacity is up to 60 tonnes and it will withstand any military equipment.
“The reliability of the crossing is immediately checked by demining installations. On the bridge, they pass, observing the speed limit. This is necessary for safety, so that in the event of an unforeseen roll, the drivers have time to manoeuvre. The purpose of the ‘Serpent Gorynych’ is to make passages in minefields up to 6 metres wide and 70 metres long. One rocket is enough to secure the path.
“Engineers know the subversive business best.”
The Russian MoD quoted one of the senior engineers as saying: “We can blow up bridges, railroads, buildings, anything. Up to the airport. But everything takes time, everything needs experience. Without a well-oiled mechanism called a team, this is impossible. All the guys know their stuff…”
The Russian MoD said: “Before undermining a military facility, engineers quickly determine its weak points. Calculate the required amount of TNT. Install explosives. After the command, a column of thick grey smoke rises into the sky. Most often, as a result of the work of demolition engineers, the enemy is destroyed, or so demoralized that he cannot continue the battle.
“The pace of combat coordination of the Russian military personnel of the regional grouping of forces in Belarus is high. Military personnel of the Western Military District continue to improve their combat skills every day, seven days a week, day and night.”
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 294th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 14th December, Russia had lost about 96,000 personnel, 2,970 tanks, 5,937 armoured combat vehicles, 1,931 artillery units, 404 multiple launch rocket systems, 211 air defence systems, 281 warplanes, 264 helicopters, 1,617 drones, 592 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,562 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 171 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
The United States is said to be finalising plans to provide Ukraine with the Patriot missile defence system.
US federal prosecutors have said that a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) agent is among seven people accused of helping Russia to illegally obtain electronic components of a sensitive nature from American companies.
The electronic components are said to have civilian uses, but they can also be used to make hypersonic and nuclear weapons.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that generators are as important as tanks when it comes to helping Ukrainians survive through the winter after Russian President Vladimir Putin targeted the country’s energy infrastructure with waves of missile strikes.
President Zelensky told an emergency conference that was convened in Paris that Ukraine will need an additional EUR 800 million to make it through the winter and a further EUR 1.5 billion to repair the damage done to its energy grid.
Over EUR 1 billion was raised to help Ukraine over the winter months at the Paris aid conference, according to France’s Foreign Minister, Catherine Colonna.
The money, which has been pledged by 46 countries and 24 international organisations, is to be used to restore some of Ukraine’s damaged energy network, to support the food sector and to help with water supply, health and transportation.
Heavy fighting was ongoing between Ukrainian and Russian forces in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk on Tuesday.
The Mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, has said that Ukrainian air-defence systems shot down 10 Iranian-made Shahed drones today, Wednesday.
