These images purport to show Russian tanker troops training for combat in Ukraine.
The footage reportedly shows a number of T-80BVM opening fire on mock targets on training grounds located to the rear of Russia’s forces in Ukraine.
The Russian war machines seen bearing the Russian flag, can be seen manoeuvring and firing throughout the clip.
The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Friday, 2nd June, along with a statement claiming: “Tankers of the Central Military District are being trained in the rear zone of the special military operation.”
The Russian MoD added: “In the rear zone of the special military operation, the training of crews of T-80BVM tanks of the Central Military District (TsVO) continues.
“At the training ground, military personnel are practising the use of standard weapons of modernised tanks to cover the actions of assault detachments of motorized rifle units.
“Gunners-operators and commanders of combat vehicles hone their skills in hitting targets at ranges from 2,000 to 6,000 metres, both on the move and from indirect firing positions.
“Also, military personnel perform combat training tasks as part of two tank crews, covering each other during offensive and defensive operations.
“All exercises are aimed at preparing crews as much as possible for actions in a real combat situation.
“In addition, the mandatory training program includes a theoretical course on knowledge of the main components and weapons of combat vehicles, classes in tactical medicine and engineering training.
“All classes are conducted under the guidance of experienced instructors who share their combat experience. Such training will allow the crews to perform their tasks as efficiently as possible in real combat conditions.”
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 464th day of the full-scale war.
The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 2nd June 2023, Russia had lost about 208,910 personnel, 3,819 tanks, 7,490 armoured combat vehicles, 3,501 artillery units, 575 multiple launch rocket systems, 335 air defence systems, 313 warplanes, 298 helicopters, 3,137 drones, 1,117 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 6,267 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 465 units of special equipment.
Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures.
The Ukrainian authorities in the capital Kyiv have said that three people including a child have been killed and a dozen people have been injured after a missile attack on the city hit a block of flats, two schools and a medical facility for children.
The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, has said that at least nine civilians have been injured in shelling.
He accused the Ukrainian Armed Forces of hitting the town of Shebekino with ‘Grad’ rockets, but responsibility for the raid has been claimed by Russian anti-Putin partisans.
Ukraine has reportedly imposed sanctions on Alexander Lebedev, a former KGB intelligence officer whose son Evgeny Lebedev is a Member of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom, over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The sanctions were reportedly put in place last October by the National Security and Defence Council in Kyiv as a result of a decree signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky, it emerged on Thursday.
Zelensky has said that Kyiv wants a “clear” decision to be made regarding its future in NATO when the organisation’s members meet in Vilnius, in Lithuania, next month.
NATO foreign ministers met in Oslo, in Norway, to discuss security guarantees for Ukraine, among other issues. Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania’s Foreign Minister, said it was time for members to determine how Ukraine can become a member.
Tobias Billstrom, Sweden’s Foreign Minister, said in Oslo that the time had also come for Turkey and Hungary to ratify Sweden’s NATO membership bid.
He said: “We have fulfilled all our commitments.”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that he would travel to Turkey to discuss Sweden’s membership of the alliance.
