Russia has said that it has destroyed Ukrainian military positions using T-72B3M tanks.
The footage purports to show two Russian soldiers launching a drone before the images show a Russian tank manoeuvring out of a forested area and into position in a field.
It can then be seen driving down a dirt track before apparently opening fire on unseen Ukrainian positions.
The footage then shows it slowly crossing a field while repeatedly firing.
The footage then shows a Russian tank positioning itself on the edge of a treeline by a dirt road before it can be seen opening fire.
The images then cut to a number of explosions in a destroyed rural area with houses, supposedly the Ukrainian positions.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Monday, 3rd July, along with a statement claiming: “The crews of the T-72B3M fired at the positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.”
The Russian MoD added: “On one of the directions of the special military operation, the T-72B3M crews of the Western Military District delivered fire strikes on the enemy.
“Thus, one of the tank groups allocated to carry out tasks fired from closed positions at the strongholds of the Ukrainian armed forces. As a result, all the intended targets were destroyed. In addition, it was possible to disrupt the supply of ammunition.
“The second group fired direct fire at the area where the reconnaissance detected enemy activity. As a result, the tankers eliminated the enemy sappers who planned to mine the ravine.
“After completing combat missions, both tank groups, having received confirmation of the defeat of targets, promptly left their firing positions in order to avoid return fire.”
We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.
Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 495th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 3rd July 2023, Russia had lost about 230,260 personnel, 4,057 tanks, 7,899 armoured combat vehicles, 4,220 artillery units, 641 multiple launch rocket systems, 391 air defence systems, 315 warplanes, 309 helicopters, 3,573 drones, 1,264 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 6,834 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 590 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
Energy companies TotalEnergies and Shell have defended their activities in Russia after a report emerged criticising their involvement in the natural gas trade despite the war in Ukraine.
The Global Witness report said that TotalEnergies and Shell were the third and fourth largest operators in the Russian liquefied natural gas industry last year, behind two Russian companies.
Both companies said on Sunday that they were tied to ongoing agreements despite pulling out of Russian partnerships after the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine last year.
Ukraine has said that Russian forces are making advances in four areas on the eastern front, with Kyiv reporting that its forces are capturing territory in the south.
The Ukrainian Deputy Defence Minister, Hanna Maliar, said on Sunday: “Fierce fighting is going on everywhere”.
Dmitry Kiselev, one of Russia’s main propagandists, said on his weekly television show on Sunday that Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin had gone “off the rails” because of “big money”.
Poland’s Interior Minister Mariusz Kaminski has said that his country will send 500 police officers to its border with Belarus.
The move follows an announcement by Warsaw that it was typing and security as a result of concerns regarding the Wagner group’s presence in Belarus.
Award-winning writer and war crimes researcher Victoria Amelina, 37, has died after being injured in the Russian missile strike on Kramatorsk last Tuesday that destroyed a pizza restaurant in the eastern Ukrainian city.
The attack killed 12 other people, including four children, and wounded dozens of others.
