Russia Shows Field Gun Howitzer Firing At Ukrainian Military Positions

These images show Ukrainian forces obliterating Russian tanks, troops and armoured vehicles on the frontlines.

The footage shows a number of explosions as Ukrainian ordnance hits the Russian war machines on the war-torn battlefield.

The video then shows a forested area being targeted by Ukrainian artillery, with a Russian trench then being hit before a tank nearby can also be seen being targeted, with the images then showing it on fire and burning profusely, not far from the severely damaged urban settlement.

The footage then shows Russian soldiers fleeing the battlefield, with others helping to drag an injured comrade. The footage ends by showing apparently injured or dead Russian soldiers.

The images were obtained from the 15th Separate Artillery Reconnaissance Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Tuesday, 13th December, along with a statement saying: "Our brothers and sisters, cooperating with the artillery brigade and mortars of the National Guard, prevented the enemy from advancing even by a kilometre.

"Another 'gesture of goodwill' from the orcs and a bunch of their destroyed equipment!"

The Ukrainian military regularly refers to Russian soldiers as "orcs".

The images were also partly relayed by the Office of Strategic Communications (StratCom) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Thursday, 15th December.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 294th day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 15th December, Russia had lost about 96,590 personnel, 2,975 tanks, 5,946 armoured combat vehicles, 1,943 artillery units, 406 multiple launch rocket systems, 211 air defence systems, 281 warplanes, 264 helicopters, 1,644 drones, 592 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,563 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 172 units of special equipment.

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

The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, has said that any suggestion that there could be a “Christmas ceasefire” in Ukraine is “not on the agenda”.

The comments came after Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky called on G7 leaders earlier this week to support a peace solution that would begin with Russia withdrawing its troops from Ukraine this Christmas.

At least 13 Iranian-made drones were shot down over Kyiv on Wednesday, according to the Ukrainian military, with the authorities describing the attacks as a continuation of Russia’s assault against the country’s energy infrastructure.

But Ukrainian national grid operator Ukrenergo said that the Russian drone attacks on Kyiv and the surrounding area on Wednesday failed to do any damage to energy facilities “thanks to the brilliant work of the air defence forces”.

The Ukrainian regional administration building in the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine has been hit by multiple Russian rockets, according to Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office.

The head of the United Kingdom’s Armed Forces, Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, has said that Russia is currently facing a “critical shortage” of artillery shells and that the Kremlin’s ability to carry out successful ground operations in Ukraine is “rapidly diminishing”.

The military chief added: “Russia faces a critical shortage of artillery munitions. This means that their ability to conduct successful offensive ground operations is rapidly diminishing.”