These images show a Ukrainian soldier bravely repelling a Russian attack on his trench in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine.
The POV-style footage shows the Ukrainian soldier fighting off the Russian forces, reportedly comprised of a BMP and infantry, with the help of a colleague.
It begins by showing one of the Ukrainian soldiers firing rockets at the attacking Russian forces in snowy conditions.
The soldier then switches to an assault rifle before asking his colleague for a grenade, which he then throws at the Russian position.
A whistling noise can be heard overhead as incoming fire hits near their position.
The camera pans down and shows the trench full of weaponry.
The soldier’s colleague can be seen reloading weapons while the first soldier repeatedly opens fire on the Russians with one of their many assault rifles.
The soldier switches guns before shouldering the rocket launcher again and firing at the Russians as gunfire can be heard in the background.
An explosion appears to nearly take him out but he appears uninjured as he reloads, ready to return fire as the footage ends.
The images, a version of which was first posted on social media by unverified sources in mid-Febraury, were obtained from the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Tuesday, 7th March, along with a statement saying: “A soldier of the 92nd mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with the call sign ‘Predator’ during close combat with the Russians in the Luhansk region.
“The enemy assault group on a BMP moved close to the position occupied by two of our soldiers and immediately tried to capture the trench.
“The attack was repelled, the boys survived.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 377th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 7th March 2023, Russia had lost about 154,830 personnel, 3,432 tanks, 6,714 armoured combat vehicles, 2,456 artillery units, 488 multiple launch rocket systems, 253 air defence systems, 303 warplanes, 289 helicopters, 2,095 drones, 873 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,323 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 236 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his country is committed to holding the contested city of Bakhmut despite being partially encircled by the Russians, saying that “no part of Ukraine” can “be abandoned”.
Both Ukraine and Russia are apparently struggling with an ammunition shortage, with Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the notorious Russian mercenary organisation Wagner, saying that his representative had been denied access to the headquarters of Russia’s invasion force after he repeatedly complained about an ammunition shortage.
Sergei Shoigu, the Russian Defence Minister, has visited Mariupol to inspect “Russian reconstruction efforts of infrastructure”.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the exiled Belarusian opposition leader, has been sentenced to 15 years in jail after being convicted in absentia for “conspiracy to seize power” and treason.
Tsikhanouskaya said that the verdict was punishment for trying to promote democracy.
The UK Ministry of Defence has said that there is a “realistic possibility” that Russia is going to re-equip its tank force with T-62s, first used in 1954, in a bid to make up for a shortfall in armour.
The tanks are reportedly destined for units that had been waiting for next-generation T-14 Armata main battle tanks.
