These images reportedly show mercenaries from the Wagner Group fighting in Ukraine.
The footage appears to show the mercenary soldiers riding in an armoured vehicle and carrying out combat operations in Ukraine.
The images were obtained from the People’s Militia of the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) on Tuesday, 22nd November, along with a statement claiming: “The work of PMC Wagner in the Artemovsky area.
“The Artemovsk direction is considered one of the hottest and most important on the front line at the moment.
“Employees of PMC Wagner, who smash Ukrainian nationalists in this area, are rightfully considered some of the most professional and motivated fighters. The guys use a variety of tactics and military wisdom to destroy the enemy as efficiently as possible.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
The Wagner Group, which is also known as PMC Wagner, is a Russian private military organisation. It has been described as a private military company, as a network of mercenaries, and as a private army for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 273rd day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 23rd November, Russia had lost about 85,410 personnel, 2,897 tanks, 5,832 armoured combat vehicles, 1,887 artillery units, 395 multiple launch rocket systems, 209 air defence systems, 278 warplanes, 261 helicopters, 1,537 drones, 480 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,396 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 161 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
The G7 countries are set to announce a price cap on Russian oil. The G7, along with the United States and the European Union, as well as Australia, intend to implement a price cap on maritime oil exports from Russia on 5th December.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukrainians who need basic services if Russia knocks out the electricity and other facilities over the winter can go to special “invincibility centres”.
Zelensky said that thousands of these centres across the country will offer electricity, water, heating, Internet services, and pharmacies, free of charge and around the clock.
President Zelensky said: “If massive Russian strikes happen again and it’s clear power will not be restored for hours, the ‘invincibility centres’ will go into action with all key services.”
Sergey Kovalenko, the head of YASNO, a major private energy provider for the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, has said that blackouts in the country are likely to carry on until at least the end of March.
The Russian energy giant Gazprom has reportedly threatened to shut down gas flows to Europe via Ukraine as of next week.
The Russian governor of Crimea has said that two Ukrainian drone attacks were repelled on Tuesday thanks to air defence systems.
