Ukrainian Soldiers Take Out Group Of Wagner Mercs Near Soledar

These images show how Ukrainian soldiers took out a group of Wagner mercenaries near Soledar using artillery.

The footage shows a number of enemy soldiers on the battlefield apparently pinned down and taking artillery fire.

One after another, they can be seen being hit and ending up motionless on the ground.

The footage ends with what appears to be a large number of bodies strewn across the battlefield, with a few survivors trying to crawl away.

The images then appear to show a second group of enemy soldiers being targeted with much the same result.

The images were obtained from the 45th Separate Artillery Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Friday, 27th January, along with a statement saying: "Soledar area: how the Wagnerites end their contracts in Ukraine!"

It added: "This is what the fate of the Wagnerites really looks like [...]."

It also said: "Every day in the same areas, helping the infantry, we destroy another batch of 'arriving' invaders. More than 30 Wagnerites terminated their contracts early in our fields in a matter of minutes."

The images were also relayed by the Office of Strategic Communications (StratCom) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 338th day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 27th January 2023, Russia had lost about 124,710 personnel, 3,182 tanks, 6,340 armoured combat vehicles, 2,180 artillery units, 452 multiple launch rocket systems, 221 air defence systems, 292 warplanes, 283 helicopters, 1,941 drones, 796 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,001 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 199 units of special equipment.

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

Russia has fired a new wave of missiles at Ukraine, killing at least 11 people, after Kyiv was promised tanks from its Western allies.

The Russian attacks damaged 35 buildings in several regions, according to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine.

General Valery Zaluzhny, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that Russia had fired 55 missiles at Ukraine on Thursday and that 47 of them were shot down.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that government officials who do not do their duty during wartime will be removed from their posts.

The announcement comes as Zelensky cracks down on corruption. So far, 11 Ukrainian government officials have either resigned or been sacked.

Alex Chalk, the UK's Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence, said on Thursday that Britain hopes that the Challenger 2 tanks that it is supplying to Ukraine will reach the country at the end of March.

Canada has reportedly confirmed that it is sending four German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said on Thursday that they had arrested one of their lieutenant colonels on suspicion of spying for Russia.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has been criticised after it suggested that Russian and Belarusian athletes might be able to compete at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris as neutral athletes.