Russia Shows Its Soldiers Training To Use Tanks, Mortars And Assault Rifles In Belarus

These images show Russian soldiers training to use tanks, mortars and assault rifles in snowy Belarus in full winter gear.

The footage begins by showing the Russian soldiers practising using armoured vehicles such as tanks and infantry fighting vehicles before they can be seen using mortars.

The footage also shows them using assault rifles from fortified positions.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday, 8th December, along with a statement saying: "Military personnel of the Western Military District, who are part of the regional group of forces, continue intensive combat training at the training grounds of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus.

"Today, with their participation, company tactical exercises aimed at combat coordination of units took place. Combat training events are held both in daylight and at night.

"At the training grounds, servicemen perform shooting from all types of small arms and mortars, study tactical medicine and other disciplines."

We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 288th day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 8th December, Russia had lost about 93,080 personnel, 2,937 tanks, 5,911 armoured combat vehicles, 1,925 artillery units, 395 multiple launch rocket systems, 211 air defence systems, 281 warplanes, 264 helicopters, 1,603 drones, 592 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,528 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 164 units of special equipment.

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

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that the war in Ukraine could become a “long-term process”.

He also denied that large numbers of Moscow’s forces were deserting from the Ukrainian battlefields.

Putin also said that Russia would not use nuclear weapons first in any conflict.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said today, Thursday, that the risk of nuclear weapons being used in the Ukraine war has decreased as a result of the international community putting pressure on Russia.

Scholz said: “One thing has changed for the time being: Russia has stopped threatening to use nuclear weapons. In response to the international community marking a red line.”

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russian shelling killed 10 people and wounded numerous others in the eastern Ukrainian town of Kurakhove.

Vitali Klitschko, the Mayor of Kyiv, has warned of an “apocalypse” scenario for the Ukrainian capital this winter if the country's energy infrastructure continues to be targeted by Russian airstrikes.

Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary-General of NATO, said that Moscow is trying to “freeze” the conflict in Ukraine over the winter period as it prepares for renewed assaults early next year.

Stoltenberg urged the alliance’s allies to keep sending weapons to Ukraine over the winter period, saying that the conditions for peace talks are “not there now”.

Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, has said that 31 “suspicious packages” had so far been sent to Ukrainian diplomatic missions in 15 countries, in what Kyiv has described as a “campaign of terror and intimidation”.

The United Kingdom has ordered “several thousand” NLAW anti-tank weapons to replace the 7,000 supplied to Ukraine in 2022.