Ukrainian Fighters Make 'Action Film' Out Of Seizing Dead Russian Soldiers' Items In Bakhmut

A Ukrainian combat unit recently shared an "action movie" it filmed during one successful operation in Bakhmut where many Russian soldiers were eliminated, as these images show.

Ukrainian soldiers took away "trophies" after seizing the belongings of dead Russian soldiers in a mission back in December that they filmed and creatively titled "Kill Wagner".

The footage shows the night-time operation taking place near the front-line city as unsuspecting Russian positions are blown up in a sudden powerful explosion.

Ukrainian fighters from the K-2 combat group carefully approached the site of the impact afterwards and seized the Russian soldier's personal items.

K-2 battalion commander Kyrylo Veres said: "They attacked us for two days in a row, but they didn't succeed. We understood that they would change their tactics and leave at night. That's why we raised the night side, waited for them to come, and pointed weapons there." (sic)

According to him, seven mercenaries from the Russian private military company 'Wagner' arrived, and the defenders opened fire on their position and eliminated them.

In the morning, the Ukrainian soldiers were able to see the results of their work - they found scattered corpses of Russian soldiers and their belongings.

The footage shows fighters seizing trophy weapons and documents, with one cutting off the straps from a dead soldier's rifle, while others clear out his bags.

After retrieving all the weapons, ammunition and cash, the Ukrainian soldiers make away with the trophies.

The images were obtained by Newsflash from the K2 combat group of the 54th Separate Mechanised Brigade on 31st December, along with a statement that said: "'Kill Wagner' - an action movie from the real life of the fighters of the K-2 battalion.

"The fighters of the K-2 battalion of the 54th OMBr destroy the enemy both day and night, and on New Year's holidays.

"Under the New Year's tree for all Ukrainians - an action film about the execution of another combat mission by the soldiers of the unit.

"We will destroy the enemy while he is on Our Earth! Glory to Ukraine! Happy New Year!

"Death to enemies!"

The footage and part of the statement were also relayed by the Office for Strategic Communications (StratCom) of 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."