These images show Ukrainians training to become special operations soldiers in gruelling, snowy conditions as they crawl on their stomachs with dogs barking at them.
The footage shows them carrying heavy loads on an endurance course, running and crawling through the snow.
Dogs can be seen being made to bark at them and they can be seen holding their heavy gear above their heads in what appears to be a serious test of their endurance and of their mental willpower.
The images were obtained from the Command of the Special Operations Forces (SSO) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Wednesday, 7th December, along with a statement that begins with a quote attributed to Maksym Vechirko, “a graduate of the Qualification Course of the SSO of Ukraine, an officer of the Special Operations Forces” who they said was killed on 16th March by Russian missile fire.
The fallen soldier is quoted as having said: “You know, old boy, the most important thing on the course is not to give up. Even if you have given up mentally – lost, dropped out. If you don’t have the strength to run, then walk – crawl, do everything you can to reach the goal. Even if you can’t.”
The SSO said that the course is about “motivation”, adding: “At the selection stage, a trained body and good health are nothing if there is no will to win.
“Everyone motivates themselves however they can.
“Some tell themselves that they will ring the bell, but… tomorrow. And they say the same phrase every day.
“Others set out to win and see no other option.
“For some, voluntarily withdrawing from the selection [process] is a betrayal of their respect for their parents – the military personnel.
“Each candidate has his own motivation, but they have a common goal: to become a specialist in their field, an operator of the Special Operations Forces. It is worth enduring all the tests for this.”
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 287th day of the war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 7th December, Russia had lost about 92,740 personnel, 2,935 tanks, 5,909 armoured combat vehicles, 1,923 artillery units, 395 multiple launch rocket systems, 211 air defence systems, 281 warplanes, 264 helicopters, 1,601 drones, 592 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,526 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.
The governor of the Russian region of Kursk Oblast, Roman Starovoyt has said that a drone attack has set fire to an oil storage tank at an airfield some 280 kilometres (175 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
The attack comes a day after two military airfields were also reportedly attacked deep inside Russia’s territory.
One of the attacks reportedly hit the Engels airfield in the Saratov region, which is where Russia houses some of its strategic nuclear bombers.
Kyiv has not directly claimed responsibility for the attacks, with the United States saying on Tuesday that it had not “enabled” Ukraine to carry out strikes inside Russia.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said: “We have neither encouraged nor enabled the Ukrainians to strike inside of Russia.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin has reportedly convened his Security Council following the alleged drone strikes.
The Kremlin has said that Putin has met with senior officials to discuss “domestic security”, adding that Moscow was taking “necessary” steps to protect itself from further attacks.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has said that he agrees with Blinken that there needs to be peace in Ukraine, but he added that Russia does not see peace talks as a possible option “at the moment”.
Peskov added that for peace talks to be able to take place, Russia would first need to achieve the goals of its “special military operation”.
The Ministry of Health of Ukraine has requested that regional authorities suspend non-essential surgeries at the country’s hospitals due to the ongoing power blackouts caused by waves of Russian missile strikes on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
EU officials have said that they will make sure that Ukraine gets EUR 18 billion in financial aid. The move comes after Hungary said it would block the funds from being released, with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban also accused of “holding hostage” funds destined for Ukraine’s hospitals.
Orban’s government has been accused of “cynical obstructionism” after Hungary said on Tuesday that it would block the EUR 18 billion in aid.
