This is the moment Russian soldiers roll across the grass “performing a breakdance” while trying to save themselves from the bombs dropped by a Ukrainian drone.
The footage shows two soldiers of Russia’s forces laying in a camouflaged position in a field area near the front-line city of Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
Drone operators manage to detect them and drop two bombs right next to them, which sends them rolling away in apparent fear.
One of the soldiers even drops his helmet as he desperately wriggles further away from the danger zone to save his life.
The images were obtained by Newsflash from the 28th Separate Mechanised Brigade named after Knights of the Winter Campaign on 3rd January, along with a statement: “Incendiary bottom breakdance performed by the ‘world’s second army’. (sic)
“Fighters of the 28th Brigade continue to send ‘gifts’ to Russian occupiers not only on land, but also from the air.
“Several explosive surprises from our defenders made the attackers, who were preparing an ambush in the direction of Bakhmut, literally dance with joy.
“The effect was impressive enough, but next time the fighters promised to kill him.”
The footage and part of the statement were also relayed by the Ground Forces of Ukraine.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 315th day of the invasion.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 4th January, Russia had lost about 108,910 personnel, 3,038 tanks, 6,106 armoured combat vehicles, 2,039 artillery units, 424 multiple launch rocket systems, 214 air defence systems, 283 warplanes, 270 helicopters, 1,842 drones, 723 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,745 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 181 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
The Russian Ministry of Defence said four Ukrainian missiles hit temporary Russian barracks in a vocational college in Makiivka, in eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
The ministry acknowledged the attack on Makiivka by Ukraine’s forces killed 89 servicemen and blamed the high death toll on its soldiers’ illegal use of mobile phones.
“This factor allowed the enemy to track and determine the coordinates of the soldiers’ location for a missile strike,” said the Ministry in a statement on Wednesday.
Ukrainian officials claimed the death toll is much higher, with around 400 mobilised Russian soldiers allegedly being killed and about 300 more being wounded.
A Russian missile attack destroyed an ice arena in Druzhkivka, Donetsk region, according to reports from Ukraine’s ice hockey federation.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Russia is set to launch a major offensive to “try to turn the tide of the war and at least delay their defeat.”
Ukraine and the EU will hold a summit on 3rd February to discuss financial and military support, President Zelenskiy’s office said.
The US president, Joe Biden, will meet with Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, at the White House on 13th January to discuss “a range of regional and global issues, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes, Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine, and maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait.”
