Ukrainian Defence Forces Carry Out Combat Exercises With Tanks On Northern Border

These images show Ukrainian forces performing training exercises on Ukraine’s northern border.

The footage shows Ukrainian soldiers training with self-propelled guns and other war machines, including tanks.

The self-propelled guns can be seen opening fire on mock enemies, with tanks also seen firing during the exercises.

Ukrainian soldiers can be seen practising using assault rifles and firing them during the exercises, with artillery also seen being used.

The images were obtained from the Separate Presidential Brigade named after Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytskyi of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Wednesday, 8th February, along with a statement saying: “The Kyiv defence forces are always ready and constantly improving!

“The coordination of the units’ work was practised at the joint staff training on the northern border. Air reconnaissance and infantry, artillery and tanks, simulation of artillery fire.

Ukrainian tank fire during a combat exercise at the northern border of Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by the Separate presidential brigade on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (@Prezydentska.Bryhada/Newsflash)

“And the Self-Propelled Artillery Division of the Separate Presidential Brigade practised the use of captured Russian high-precision projectiles. So to speak, thank the enemies for the ‘Lend-Lease’!

“The Kyiv region is protected!”

The images were also relayed by the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, along with a statement saying: “Units from the Kyiv Defence Forces, during joint staff training on the northern border, worked out the coherence of work during a defensive battle.”

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 350th day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 8th February 2023, Russia had lost about 134,100 personnel, 3,253 tanks, 6,458 armoured combat vehicles, 2,236 artillery units, 461 multiple launch rocket systems, 228 air defence systems, 295 warplanes, 285 helicopters, 1,961 drones, 796 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,112 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 211 units of special equipment.

Ukrainian tank fire during a combat exercise at the northern border of Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by the Separate presidential brigade on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (@Prezydentska.Bryhada/Newsflash)

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

Ukraine’s military said on Tuesday that the previous 24 hours had been the most deadly in the war so far for Russian soldiers.

Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark have issued a joint statement saying that they will provide Ukraine with at least 100 refurbished Leopard 1 main battle tanks.

The defence ministers of the three countries said in the statement that sending Ukraine the refurbished, older tanks was “to support Ukraine in their endeavour to withstand Russian aggression” and that the war machines would be delivered to Ukraine “within the coming months”.

The Ministry of Defence of Germany has said that some Leopard 2 main battle tanks will be ready for Ukraine by the end of March.

Ukrainian tank hits the target during a combat exercise at the northern border of Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by the Separate presidential brigade on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (@Prezydentska.Bryhada/Newsflash)

The head of the German defence company Rheinmetall has also said that it plans to send 20 to 25 Leopard 1 tanks to Ukraine this year.

Ihor Klymenko has become the new Ukrainian Minister of Interior Affairs and Vasily Malyuk has become the new head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the country’s main intelligence and security agency, after their appointments were approved by the Ukraine’s Parliament.

Ukraine’s top national security official, Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine’s national security and defence council, has said that he believes Kyiv will eventually be supplied with American F-16 fighter jets and that it was “only a matter of time”.

Danilov also suggested that Ukraine could strike Russia on its own territory, beyond occupied Ukraine.

The UK Ministry of Defence has said that Russia “lacks the munitions and manoeuvre units required for successful offensives”.

Ukrainian tank fire during a combat exercise at the northern border of Ukraine in undated footage. The footage was released by the Separate presidential brigade on Wednesday, Feb. 8, 2023. (@Prezydentska.Bryhada/Newsflash)

The UK MoD added: “Senior commanders likely make plans requiring undermanned, inexperienced units to achieve unrealistic objectives due to political and profession pressure.”

The Minister of Defence of Russia, Sergei Shoigu, has said that Western weaponry supplied to Kyiv is “dragging” NATO into the conflict, which could lead to an “unpredictable level of escalation”.