These images purport to show Russian special forces soldiers undergoing combat training.

The footage shows them operating heavy weaponry including anti-tank guided missiles, heavy machine guns as well as assault rifles.

They can also be seen responding to a mock imminent threat and taking up tactical combat positions.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday, 8th December, along with a statement saying: “The servicemen of the special forces units of the Central Military District between the performance of combat missions improve the coherence of the work of groups and the skills of owning weapons.

“After the combat exits, the groups analyze the stages of the operation carried out element by element and offer other options for its implementation, taking into account various variables: weather conditions, terrain, time of day, and then they will work out tactical techniques at the training ground.

“Continuous processing of new combat experience allows you to improve the skills and tactics of combat.

“In the course of fire training, the military personnel of special forces units, in order to implement the principle of ‘interchangeability’, master various types of weapons: anti-tank missile systems, automatic and hand grenade launchers, machine guns.

“Besides, the continuous processing of new combat experience makes it possible to improve the skills and tactics of combat and save the lives of personnel. During the special military operation of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, dozens of special forces soldiers were awarded state awards: Orders of Courage, medals ‘For Courage’, ‘For Services to the Fatherland’, Suvorov and Zhukov.”

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 288th day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 8th December, Russia had lost about 93,080 personnel, 2,937 tanks, 5,911 armoured combat vehicles, 1,925 artillery units, 395 multiple launch rocket systems, 211 air defence systems, 281 warplanes, 264 helicopters, 1,603 drones, 592 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,528 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 164 units of special equipment.

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

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that the war in Ukraine could become a “long-term process”.

He also denied that large numbers of Moscow’s forces were deserting from the Ukrainian battlefields.

Putin also said that Russia would not use nuclear weapons first in any conflict.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said today, Thursday, that the risk of nuclear weapons being used in the Ukraine war has decreased as a result of the international community putting pressure on Russia.

Scholz said: “One thing has changed for the time being: Russia has stopped threatening to use nuclear weapons. In response to the international community marking a red line.”

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russian shelling killed 10 people and wounded numerous others in the eastern Ukrainian town of Kurakhove.

Vitali Klitschko, the Mayor of Kyiv, has warned of an “apocalypse” scenario for the Ukrainian capital this winter if the country’s energy infrastructure continues to be targeted by Russian airstrikes.

Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary-General of NATO, said that Moscow is trying to “freeze” the conflict in Ukraine over the winter period as it prepares for renewed assaults early next year.

Stoltenberg urged the alliance’s allies to keep sending weapons to Ukraine over the winter period, saying that the conditions for peace talks are “not there now”.

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, has said that 31 “suspicious packages” had so far been sent to Ukrainian diplomatic missions in 15 countries, in what Kyiv has described as a “campaign of terror and intimidation”.

The United Kingdom has ordered “several thousand” NLAW anti-tank weapons to replace the 7,000 supplied to Ukraine in 2022.