The pro-Russian Luhansk People’s Republic has said that its forces thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to break through their lines in Donetsk.
The footage purports to show at least three pieces of Ukrainian armour advancing down a road, with more then seen coming up behind them.
The Ukrainian armoured vehicle at the head of the column can be seen opening fire on unseen targets before it appears to be hit by pro-Russian artillery.
Ukrainian soldiers can apparently be seen lying injured or lifeless on top of the vehicle, with at least a dozen Ukrainian soldiers taking cover by the side of the road, at the bottom of a small slope.
The area appears to be hit by pro-Russian ordnance as the footage ends.
The images were obtained from the People’s militia of the Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) on Thursday, 8th December, along with a statement claiming: “In the Soledar area, artillerymen of the 6th Regiment of the 2nd Army Corps of the LPR prevented an attempt to break through by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
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 9th December, Russia had lost about 93,390 personnel, 2,937 tanks, 5,912 armoured combat vehicles, 1,926 artillery units, 395 multiple launch rocket systems, 211 air defence systems, 281 warplanes, 264 helicopters, 1,603 drones, 592 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,531 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.
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NATO members Hungary and Turkey have yet to approve their admission into the Alliance.
Blinken said that both countries had demonstrated their sincerity in their desire to join the Alliance, not least by joining with NATO to provide support for Ukraine to counter Moscow’s aggression.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he will continue to attack Ukraine’s energy infrastructure despite international criticism after repeated waves of Russian missile strikes have left millions of civilians without water or electricity as temperatures plummet.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that Russia is still intent on seizing control of some parts of eastern and southern Ukraine, which Putin has previously claimed for Russia.
The move by Russia to annex the Ukrainian regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, was widely condemned and has not been internationally recognised.
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The Pope reportedly had to pause during a speech for about 30 seconds before he regained his composure.
