Ukrainian Machine Gunners Shoot At Russian Invaders From Snowy Fortified Position

These images show Ukrainian machine guns shooting at the Russian invaders from a snowy fortified position.

The footage begins by showing a Ukrainian soldier opening fire with a heavy machine gun from the fortified position before other Ukrainian soldiers are seen engaging in combat and exchanging fire with the enemy from a snowy ditch.

The footage ends by showing a snow-covered Ukrainian military vehicle.

The footage was obtained from the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Friday, 2nd December, along with a statement saying: “Good morning, Ukraine! Fearless warriors defend every piece of the country!”

The images and statement were also relayed by the Office of Strategic Communications (StratCom) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 281st day of the war.

Ukrainian soldier shoots machine gun from a dugout in Ukraine. The footage was obtained from the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (@AFUkraine/Newsflash)

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 2nd December, Russia had lost about 90,090 personnel, 2,916 tanks, 5,883 armoured combat vehicles, 1,905 artillery units, 395 multiple launch rocket systems, 210 air defence systems, 280 warplanes, 262 helicopters, 1,564 drones, 531 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,464 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 163 units of special equipment.

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

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak has said that Ukraine has lost between 10,000 and 13,000 soldiers so far against Russia.

US President Joe Biden has said he would be willing to talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin – in consultation with NATO allies – if the latter would be willing to end the war.

President Biden, speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, said: “I’m prepared to speak with Mr Putin if in fact there is an interest in him deciding he’s looking for a way to end the war. He hasn’t done that yet.”

President Macron said that he would continue to talk to President Putin “try to prevent escalation and to get some very concrete results”.

Both the US and French presidents pledged to hold Russia accountable for its “widely documented atrocities and war crimes” in Ukraine.

President Biden pledged to continue supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression, which he said had been “incredibly brutal”.

The American and French leaders said in a joint statement: “Intentionally targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure constitutes war crimes whose perpetrators must be held accountable.”

Picture shows a Ukrainian tank in snow in Ukraine. The footage was obtained from the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022. (@AFUkraine/Newsflash)

Russia has hit the recently recaptured southern Ukrainian city of Kherson with missiles, causing disruptions to the city’s power supply just as electricity had begun to be restored some three weeks after Russian troops retreated from the city.

Vitaliy Klitschko, the Mayor of Ukraine’s capital Kyiv, has told residents to stock up on food, water and warm clothes in case Russia causes a total blackout in the city.

Members of the European Union have agreed to place a USD 60 price cap per barrel on Russian seaborne oil.

An embargo on Russian crude is set to be enforced as of Monday, with the price cap understood to apply to oil exported by Russia to various ports around the world.

Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary-General of NATO, has said it was too early to reach a verdict on discussions between Germany and Poland regarding supplying Ukraine with Patriot air defence systems.

Speaking at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Stoltenberg said: “We all agree on the urgent need to help Ukraine, including with air defence systems.”