Ukrainian Fighters Fire At Russian Military Positions Using Machine Guns And Recoilless Rifles

This is the moment Ukrainian artillerymen fire at Russian military positions using heavy machine guns and recoilless rifles.

The impressive footage shows Ukrainian troops aboard an armoured military vehicle driving up to the battlefield.

Others can be seen loading numerous ammunition belts with rifle cartridges as they prepare for combat.

Then, another scene shows the soldiers positioned across what appears to be a defence line throughout a field and firing at Russian positions with heavy artillery systems.

Fighters can all be seen working together while strategically shooting from rifles and recoilless launchers to destroy the enemy's offences.

The images were obtained by Newsflash from the 53rd Separate Mechanised Brigade on 2nd January, along with a statement: "Despite the holiday season, the soldiers of the 53rd OMBr Knyazya Volodymyra Monomakha, risking their lives, continue to protect our cities from deadly Russian invasion.

"Because of the courage and resilience of these warriors, freedom exists on this land today. And a person's hope for peace is strengthened by experiencing freedom.

"Because without freedom there can be no peace - only a dead dream in a dark world.

"Together we will win! Glory to Ukraine!"

The footage and statement were also relayed by the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 315th day of the invasion.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 4th January, Russia had lost about 108,910 personnel, 3,038 tanks, 6,106 armoured combat vehicles, 2,039 artillery units, 424 multiple launch rocket systems, 214 air defence systems, 283 warplanes, 270 helicopters, 1,842 drones, 723 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,745 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 181 units of special equipment.

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

The Russian Ministry of Defence said four Ukrainian missiles hit temporary Russian barracks in a vocational college in Makiivka, in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region.

The ministry acknowledged the attack on Makiivka by Ukraine's forces killed 89 servicemen and blamed the high death toll on its soldiers' illegal use of mobile phones.

"This factor allowed the enemy to track and determine the coordinates of the soldiers’ location for a missile strike," said the Ministry in a statement on Wednesday.

Ukrainian officials claimed the death toll is much higher, with around 400 mobilised Russian soldiers allegedly being killed and about 300 more being wounded.

A Russian missile attack destroyed an ice arena in Druzhkivka, Donetsk region, according to reports from Ukraine’s ice hockey federation.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Russia is set to launch a major offensive to "try to turn the tide of the war and at least delay their defeat."

Ukraine and the EU will hold a summit on 3rd February to discuss financial and military support, President Zelenskiy’s office said.

The US president, Joe Biden, will meet with Japan’s prime minister, Fumio Kishida, at the White House on 13th January to discuss "a range of regional and global issues, including the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programmes, Russia’s brutal war against Ukraine, and maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait."