Fourthestate

Ukraine's special forces have said that "more than 100 Russians went together to Hell in the Soledar area", with these images showing some of them being hit by Ukrainian ordnance. The footage reportedly shows Russian soldiers being hit by Ukrainian ordnance near Soledar. The images were obtained from the Command of the Special Operations Forces (SSO) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Thursday, 12th January, along with a statement saying: "More than a hundred Russians went together to Hell in the Soledar area. "This happened thanks to the coordinated work of SSO soldiers, gunners, and rocket launchers. "The concentration of the enemy in several areas was discovered by the operators of the Special Operations Forces. Artillery was directed at the enemy, and the Tochka-U tactical missile complex was also used in one of the areas. "As a result of these several strikes, the destruction of more than 100 occupiers, 2 machine gun positions and 2 mortars were confirmed. "In the video - one of the stages of working out the artillery according to the given coordinates." The images and statement were also relayed by the Office of 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 323rd day of the war. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 12th January, Russia had lost about 113,390 personnel, 3,094 tanks, 6,159 armoured combat vehicles, 2,082 artillery units, 437 multiple launch rocket systems, 218 air defence systems, 285 warplanes, 276 helicopters, 1,865 drones, 723 cruise missiles, 17 warships, 4,826 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 184 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. A spokesperson for 10 Downing Street has reportedly confirmed that the British government is planning to provide tanks to Ukraine to help the country defend itself from Russian aggression. Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, the spokesperson reportedly said that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had asked Defence Secretary Ben Wallace to “work with partners” to give Ukraine further support “including the provision of tanks”. The spokesperson added: “It’s clear that battle tanks could provide a game-changing capability to the Ukrainians.” Polish President Andrzej Duda said in Lviv on Wednesday that Poland plans to send 10 German-made Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Kyiv has repeatedly requested the provision of main battle tanks from its Western allies. Sweden’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom, whose country currently holds the European Union rotating presidency, has said that the EU is “prepared for a long war” and that the union would support Ukraine against Moscow's aggression for “as long as it takes”. Zelensky has urged NATO to take “powerful steps” towards allowing Ukraine to join the military alliance. After talks with the President of Lithuania and Poland in Lviv on Wednesday, Zelensky said: “For today, just support for Ukraine from colleagues in NATO and support in the form of rhetoric about open doors is not enough for Ukraine. Namely, not enough to motivate our state… our soldiers.” The Ukrainian president added: “We need steps forward… we are looking forward to powerful steps, we are counting on something more than just open doors.” Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed Russian claims that they have taken the eastern city of Soledar and has said that fighting is ongoing. Zelensky said that “the terrorist state [Russia] and its propagandists are trying to pretend” that they have achieved victory in Soledar but he added that “the fighting continues”. Ukraine’s military also denied that Russian troops had captured the city. This comes after the head of the Wagner mercenary organisation claimed that the mining town had fallen. Russia has appointed Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, as its overall commander for the war in Ukraine. He is replacing the latest commander, Sergey Surovikin, who is now one of his three deputies. Russian President Vladimir Putin has said during a televised meeting with officials that the situation in Ukrainian regions that Moscow claimed to have annexed in September, in a move that has widely been deemed illegal, was “difficult in places”. A Russian conscript named as Alexander Leshkov has reportedly been sentenced to five and a half years in prison after arguing and shoving Lieutenant Colonel Denis Mazanov over poor trading conditions at training grounds outside the Russian capital Moscow. It is reportedly the first known ruling against a soldier who criticised the Russian regime’s unpopular mobilisation move.

This is the moment firefighters help catch a snake seen casually slithering on a set of power cables. The 8-foot reptile was spotted by resident Ms Wang as she left her home to go shopping on 18th April, according to the fire service in Zunyi City in south-western China’s Guizhou Province.

This footage shows how a Ukrainian Father Christmas has traded in his traditional sleigh for a 9K33 Osa surface-to-air missile system. The unmistakable Santa, with his white beard and red robes, can be seen perched atop the Ukrainian war machine along with three heavily armed Ukrainian soldiers sporting assault rifles. They can be seen waving at the camera – as if to say "now I have a machine gun. Ho-ho-ho!" – as the war machine drives along a snow-covered road. The images were obtained from the Office of Strategic Communications (StratCom) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Monday, 28th November, along with a statement saying: "And let this winter bring us victory." Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 279th day of the war. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 29th November, Russia had lost about 88,380 personnel, 2,911 tanks, 5,866 armoured combat vehicles, 1,901 artillery units, 395 multiple launch rocket systems, 209 air defence systems, 280 warplanes, 261 helicopters, 1,555 drones, 531 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,423 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 163 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. Intense fighting is taking place around the key town of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine, with hundreds of dead and injured reported daily on both sides. Ukraine’s military has said that Russia has continued to shell civilian infrastructure in the liberated city of Kherson. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces has said that the military inventories of the United States and its allies are shrinking as the West reportedly struggles to meet increased demand for further arms. The United States is studying a proposal from Boeing to supply Ukraine with small, cheap precision bombs that can be fitted to readily available rockets. It is thought that this would allow Kyiv to strike far behind Russia’s lines. Ukraine’s Armed Forces have said that they have damaged a logistically significant railway bridge north of the southern Ukrainian city of Melitopol, which is currently occupied by Russian forces. Russia has reacted angrily to comments from the Pope that some minority groups of soldiers have behaved worse than others in the invasion of Ukraine. Pope Francis said that the "cruellest" troops were generally Chechens and Buryats. Russia called the remarks a "perversion", and said national groups were "one family". A protester wearing a T-shirt saying “Save Ukraine” on the front invaded the pitch during the World Cup football match between Portugal and Uruguay. The protester was also carrying a rainbow flag and their T-shirt said 'Respect for Iranian woman' on the back.

This is the moment Russian soldiers roll across the grass "performing a breakdance" while trying to save themselves from the bombs dropped by a Ukrainian drone. The footage shows two soldiers of Russia's forces laying in a camouflaged position in a field area near the front-line city of Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region. Drone operators manage to detect them and drop two bombs right next to them, which sends them rolling away in apparent fear. One of the soldiers even drops his helmet as he desperately wriggles further away from the danger zone to save his life. The images were obtained by Newsflash from the 28th Separate Mechanised Brigade named after Knights of the Winter Campaign on 3rd January, along with a statement: "Incendiary bottom breakdance performed by the 'world's second army'. (sic) "Fighters of the 28th Brigade continue to send 'gifts' to Russian occupiers not only on land, but also from the air. "Several explosive surprises from our defenders made the attackers, who were preparing an ambush in the direction of Bakhmut, literally dance with joy. "The effect was impressive enough, but next time the fighters promised to kill him." The footage and part of the statement were also relayed by the Ground 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."

These images show a Ukrainian drone dropping bombs on Russian soldiers as they run to the trenches for cover. The footage begins with about 10 Russian soldiers hurrying into the trench just as the Ukrainian drone drops a first bomb. It can be seen exploding in the trench and potentially injuring some of the soldiers just as the drone drops a second bomb. The images were obtained from the Regional Directorate of Territorial Defense Forces "East" of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Monday, 30th January, along with a statement saying: "The orcs are constantly trying to escape from our Separate Territorial Defence Brigade of the city of Kharkiv. "Sometimes it works... but not for everyone. Death to the enemies." Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 344th day of the war. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 2nd February 2023, Russia had lost about 129,030 personnel, 3,211 tanks, 6,382 armoured combat vehicles, 2,212 artillery units, 458 multiple launch rocket systems, 222 air defence systems, 293 warplanes, 284 helicopters, 1,951 drones, 796 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,064 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 200 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. At least two people have been killed and seven injured when a Russian rocket destroyed an apartment building in the city of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine, according to the regional governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko. He said: “Rescuers, law enforcement and public utilities are working at the scene to go through the rubble of the destroyed building. It is likely that people are still underneath.” Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said on Wednesday evening that there is fierce fighting in eastern Ukraine, with Russian troops attempting to advance near the strategic city of Lyman. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russian forces are attempting to make gains that they can show on the anniversary of the invasion, which will be on 24th February. Zelensky said: “A definite increase has been noted in the offensive operations of the occupiers on the front in the east of our country. The situation has become tougher.” Andrei Medvedev, a former commander of Russia’s Wagner mercenary organisation who fled to Norway, reportedly said he wished to apologise for having fought in Ukraine and wanted to bring the perpetrators of atrocities carried out in the conflict to justice. He also said that he witnessed Russian prisoners who were taken to Ukraine to fight for Wagner being mistreated and killed. The UK Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, has said that he does not think that it would be the right decision to send UK fighter jets to Ukraine “for now”. He also said that it was “not a solid decision” and added: “I’ve learned two things: never rule anything in and never rule anything out.” Germany’s Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck has said that he is not in favour of sending fighter jets to Ukraine, saying that it would probably be a step too far and could lead allies into being drawn into an outright war with Russia. But Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged Ukraine’s western allies to “give the Ukrainians the tools to finish the job”, including main battle tanks and combat aircraft. Speaking to the Atlantic Council in Washington DC, the UK’s former Prime Minister urged allies to “stop focusing on Putin and focus entirely on Ukraine. Spain has reportedly said that it will begin sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, with between four and six of the tanks set to be supplied to Kyiv. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that the growing relationship between Russia and China represents a threat not only to Asia but to Europe as well.

This footage shows a Ukrainian drone dropping multiple bombs on Russian soldiers and causing them to flee. The footage shows the Ukrainian drone dropping a first bomb on the Russian soldiers, with it exploding right next to one of them, causing him to fall to the ground. The drone then drops a second bomb that explodes right next to a soldier seen crawling on the ground. Two Russian soldiers can then be seen dragging an injured comrade away but they appear to let go of him as they hastily retreat before the drone drops a third bomb. The injured Russian soldier crawls away and three other soldiers can be seen retreating fast. The third drone bomb explodes right next to the three retreating Russian soldiers, causing all three of them to fall to the ground. The Russian soldiers can be seen apparently tending to their wounded as the footage ends. The images were obtained from the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Friday, 10th February, along with a statement saying: "What it looks like to destroy the invaders from the sky." Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 352nd day of the war. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 10th February 2023, Russia had lost about 135,740 personnel, 3,258 tanks, 6,471 armoured combat vehicles, 2,251 artillery units, 463 multiple launch rocket systems, 233 air defence systems, 295 warplanes, 286 helicopters, 1,970 drones, 796 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,126 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 211 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that several European Union leaders are prepared to provide his country with combat aircraft. Zelensky said on Thursday: “Europe will be with us until our victory. I’ve heard it from a number of European leaders … about the readiness to give us the necessary weapons and support, including the aircraft.” He added: “I have a number of bilaterals now, we are going to raise the issue of the fighter jets and other aircraft.” The Ukrainian president also urged European leaders to deliver weaponry faster and begin EU membership discussions with Ukraine this year. A spokesperson for the UK Prime Minister said that Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was looking into “whether we can provide fighter jets in the future”. But the UK government also said that it would not send combat aircraft to Ukraine if this created risks to British safety. Russia has reportedly launched a major new offensive in eastern Ukraine and is attempting a push near the town of Kreminna, according to the Ukrainian Governor of Luhansk, Serhiy Haidai. Haidai said on Thursday that there had been “maximum escalation”, adding: “So far they haven’t had any success. Our defenders have been able to hold them back completely.” Russian drones and missiles have hit targets in southern and eastern Ukraine on Thursday night, with Serhiy Lysak, the Ukrainian military administrator for the Dnipropetrovsk region, saying that Shahed drones had been detected in the area. Zelensky has claimed that Ukraine has intercepted Russian secret service plans to destroy Moldova. Speaking in Brussels to EU leaders, Zelensky said that his services had intercepted evidence that “shows who, when and how was going to break the democracy of Moldova and establish control over Moldova.” Zelensky said that he had immediately warned his Moldovan counterpart, President Maia Sandu. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, said on Thursday that the EU must continue to provide support to Ukraine, saying: “We understand that the coming weeks and months will be of decisive importance.” He added: “Artillery, munitions, defence systems … you have told us exactly what you need and what you need now.” The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, has announced new sanctions against Russia worth more than EUR 10 billion, which are geared towards targeting propagandists for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian combat swimmers told how they evacuated civilians by water right under the enemy's nose and saved them from getting trapped in Russian-occupied areas in this newly-released footage. The video tells what operations the swimmers of the 73rd Marine Centre, named after chieftain Antin Holovaty, participate in and shows footage of unique combat operations. It also shows footage of the landing on the liberated Zmiiny Island in the Black Sea. An astounding total of 500 people were reportedly saved during a single operation carried out by the Naval unit. The swimmer soldiers said that they evacuated the civilian population from the occupied territories on boats and among them were very young children. They also added that, usually, on the eve of a landing operation, a group of divers would study the approach routes and the landing site on the shore. On the day of the operation, the group can go ashore, gain a foothold and wait for the main attack group, they added. Divers also study the landing site, make sure it is not mined and secure is a safe exit, the soldiers said. The footage was obtained by Newsflash from the Command of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 21st December, along with a statement: "Combat swimmers of the 73rd Marine Centre told how they evacuated civilians by water from under the nose of the enemy, and did not allow civilians to end up in occupation. "On their account are landings on Russian-occupied territories, evacuation of fellow soldiers, demining of sea waters and, of course, destruction of Russian occupiers. "During the war, our 'Seals' perform many combat missions where human capabilities seem to reach their limits. But not for them." The 73rd Marine Centre and the Centre of Strategic Communications (StratCom) of Ukraine also relayed the footage and statement. Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 302nd day of the invasion. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 22nd December, Russia had lost about 100,400 personnel, 3,003 tanks, 5,981 armoured combat vehicles, 1,978 artillery units, 413 multiple launch rocket systems, 212 air defence systems, 283 warplanes, 267 helicopters, 1,693 drones, 653 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,615 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 178 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky travelled to Washington, DC to meet with US leaders on 21st December with a plea for military aid. Zelenskyy called the tens of billions of dollars in US military and economic assistance to Ukraine an investment in democracy and “not charity”. And the US Congress is set to announce an additional aid package for Ukraine that would include nearly USD 45 billion (GBP 37 billion). The Kremlin warned that increasing the supply of US weapons to Ukraine would aggravate the war. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said that Russia needs to prepare an "appropriate" response to NATO’s military expansion near Russian borders, including Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO membership aspirations, and proposed to expand the military. And Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that Russian forces had faced challenges with mobilization, lack of drones and new equipment. The head of the local grid operator in Kyiv, Serhiy Kovalenko, said power outages in Ukraine's capital remain the most difficult. He added that the situation may improve if the remaining 40 per cent of transformers do not get hit in new attacks. Moreover, heavy fighting has been going on in Donetsk, Eastern Ukraine, as Russian forces attempt to make further advances in the region. General Staff spokesperson Oleksandr Shtupun said Ukrainian forces repelled attacks around more than 25 populated areas in the Kharkiv, Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The bodies of seven civilians, including a teenage girl, were found in a mass grave in the village of Pravdyne in southern Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian defence minister. In other developments, the former Russian deputy prime minister and former director of Russia's space agency Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin, was wounded in the Ukrainian bombing of a hotel in the Russian-controlled city of Donetsk.

This is the moment a policeman is dragged along the road by a car allegedly driven by a drink-driver. The scene took place in the south-western Russian city of Kurgan, in the Kurgan Oblast. According to local media, the man driving a car refused to pull over when asked to by cops and instead dragged one officer along the asphalt.

These images show Russian soldiers playing hide and seek with Ukrainian drones in a futile attempt to escape them. The footage shows a Ukrainian drone dropping a bomb on a group of Russian soldiers as they scramble for cover. The footage then shows a second bomb being dropped on the Russian soldiers who scatter to avoid it. The footage then shows a Ukrainian drone dropping a bomb on what appears to be a dugout, with the footage ending by showing what appears to be a dead Russian soldier lying lifeless on the battlefield. The images were obtained from the 22nd Separate Motorized Infantry Battalion of Ukrainian Ground Forces on Thursday, 19th January, along with a statement saying: "Courageous and indomitable soldiers of 22 separate motorized infantry battalions work non-stop every day to ensure that not a single invader remains on our territory. "Every day, the fighters are doing their best to bring victory in the war with the Russian invaders not only with the help of classic firearms, but also using UAVs. As you can see in the video, attempts to play hide-and-seek do not work for the Russians. "We are winning on all fronts because we have truth, faith and our brave warriors. "Let's keep in line!" The images and statement were also relayed by Operational Command 'East' 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 331st day of the war. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 20th January 2023, Russia had lost about 119,300 personnel, 3,139 tanks, 6,241 armoured combat vehicles, 2,129 artillery units, 442 multiple launch rocket systems, 220 air defence systems, 287 warplanes, 277 helicopters, 1,886 drones, 749 cruise missiles, 17 warships, 4,903 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 190 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. Eleven NATO countries have pledged significant new military assistance to Ukraine with aid from countries including the United Kingdom, Poland, Estonia and Latvia set to be made up of tens of Stinger defence systems as well as S-60 anti-aircraft guns and training. The United States has announced a further USD 2.5 billion in aid for Ukraine, including Stryker armoured personnel carriers, Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, and Avenger air defence systems and ammunition, according to the Pentagon. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Kyiv expects “strong decisions” from NATO defence leaders and other countries meeting today, Friday, to discuss increasing Ukraine’s ability to fight the invading Russian forces using modern tanks. The US officials have said that CIA director William Burns had recently travelled to meet President Zelensky in secret. The official said: “Director Burns traveled to Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian intelligence counterparts as well as President Zelensky and reinforced our continued support for Ukraine and its defence against Russian aggression.” UK Defence Minister Ben Wallace has said that Britain is planning to send 600 Brimstone missiles to Ukraine. Wallace said: “We’re in it for the long haul.” Sweden has announced new military aid to Ukraine that will include armoured infantry fighting vehicles and Archer artillery systems. Poland has said that it is prepared to send a company of German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, “pending why the coalition” of Leopard donors. But Germany is currently still holding out on sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine or allowing other countries with Leopard 2 tanks to send them to help fight the Russians. Arvydas Anusauskas, Lithuania’s Defence Minister, has said that several countries will announce that they are sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine at Friday’s meeting of Defence Ministers at the Ramstein airbase in Germany. The US and German defence ministers met on Thursday amid increasing pressure for Germany to allow Leopard tanks to be sent to Ukraine. Lloyd Austin and Boris Pistorius met as a German official said that Germany would allow Leopard tanks to be sent to Ukraine if the US agreed to send its own tanks. But US officials have so far said that Washington has no plans to send American tanks to Ukraine due to maintenance and training issues. Maia Sandu, the President of Moldova, has requested air defence systems from Moldova’s allies to strengthen its own capabilities as the war in Ukraine, its neighbour, continues. Russia has said that it will achieve its goals in Ukraine “one way or another” and has said that Russia is ready to hold military operations in Ukraine if Kyiv meets its demands, but Moscow has yet to detail what it wants from Kyiv in order to end the hostilities.

The video shows the moment artillerymen of the Russian Armed Forces fire at Ukrainian soldiers in Lysychansk. The so-called Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) claimed they inflicted huge damage on Ukrainian troops at the battlefield near the city of Lysychansk, in the Sievierodonetsk Raion. Drone footage shows Ukrainian targets blow up in the air, as huge clouds of smoke billow into the sky following the numerous explosions caught on tape. The footage was obtained by Newsflash from LPR on 27th December, along with a statement saying: "Artillerymen of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation inflicted a fire defeat on the manpower of the militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Lysychansk direction." 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 308th day of the invasion. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 28th December, Russia had lost about 103,770 personnel, 3,017 tanks, 6,037 armoured combat vehicles, 1,999 artillery units, 418 multiple launch rocket systems, 212 air defence systems, 283 warplanes, 267 helicopters, 1,707 drones, 653 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,660 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 179 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) reported the number of civilian casualties in Russia’s war on Ukraine has reached as many as 6,884 people, including 429 children, who are believed to have died in Ukraine between 24th February to 26th December 2022. But the actual figure could be "considerably higher", the agency said, "as the receipt of information from some locations where intense hostilities have been going on has been delayed and many reports are still pending corroboration." Air raid warnings continue to be in effect in Ukraine’s capital, according to the Kyiv city state administration. The bodies of 42 Ukrainian servicemen who died while fighting have been returned to Ukraine, the Ukrainian government reported. The European Union has announced that it will support "more than 700,000 Ukrainians in the winter" as the war rages on. Britain's Defence Ministry said the front line in eastern Ukraine remains little changed despite fierce fighting on both sides, but without making any major advances. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the situation along the eastern front line in Donbas "difficult and painful". An Australian man has reportedly died fighting in Ukraine, according to Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). Sage O’Donnell, from the south-eastern state of Victoria, was allegedly killed just before Christmas. Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree according to which Moscow will ban oil sales to countries to nations participating in an imposed cap from February 2023. The gas cap is to be set at EUR 180 (GBP 157) as of 15th February after European officials agreed to intervene in the energy crisis.

This is the moment a ginger cat dubbed "Private Ket" proudly leads Ukrainian troops through a snowy forest. The images show the ginger moggy ahead of a group of Ukrainian soldiers and a military vehicle as they make their way through a snowy, forested area. The images were obtained from the State Border Service of Ukraine on Friday, 3rd February, along with a statement saying: "Private 'Ket' takes the border guards to the briefing." Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 349th day of the war. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 7th February 2023, Russia had lost about 133,190 personnel, 3,245 tanks, 6,443 armoured combat vehicles, 2,232 artillery units, 461 multiple launch rocket systems, 227 air defence systems, 294 warplanes, 284 helicopters, 1,958 drones, 796 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,107 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 208 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that he is making some changes to the military personnel in charge of the borders and frontlines in a bid to boost Ukraine’s defensive stance against Russia. Zelensky said on Monday evening: “We are bolstering our managerial positions.” He added: “In a number of regions, particularly those on the border or on the frontline, we will appoint leaders with military experience. Those who can show themselves to be the most effective in defending against existing threats.” Zelensky is set to visit Brussels on Thursday to meet the European Union’s leaders and address the European Parliament. European Council Chief Charles Michel has reportedly invited the Ukrainian president to participate in a “future summit” involving the EU’s 27 members. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on Monday that Russia had launched five missile attacks and 12 air attacks within 24 hours and hit areas in southern Ukraine including Kherson. The General Staff also said that Ukrainian aircraft had launched nine strikes on Russian anti-aircraft positions and troops. The Ministry of Defence of the United Kingdom has said that Russia is making small advances as it attempts to encircle Bakhmut. The UK MoD said: “While multiple alternative cross-country supply routes remain available to Ukrainian forces, Bakhmut is increasingly isolated.” Pavlo Kyrylenko, the Ukrainian Governor of the Donetsk region, said: “The battles for the region are heating up.” Serhiy Haidai, the Ukrainian Governor of the Luhansk region, said that shelling had decreased there as “the Russians have been saving ammunition for a large-scale offensive.” Moscow is reportedly assembling additional troops in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine ahead of an expected spring offensive. Germany’s attempts to quickly put together two battalions of Leopard 2 tanks sourced from its European allies to send them to Ukraine is reportedly taking longer than expected. But German government spokesperson Wolfgang Buechner said on Monday that “Germany’s commitment stands”. Antonio Guterres, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, has cautioned that the world is heading towards a “wider war” over Ukraine. Speaking to the United Nations general assembly, he said: “The prospects for peace keep diminishing. The chances of further escalation and bloodshed keep growing.”

These images allegedly show Russian forces destroying Ukrainian positions in the Luhansk region. The footage appears to show unseen targets being shot at with Russian artillery fire in a large field, allegedly near the city of Lysychansk. The images were obtained by Newsflash from the People's Militia of the so-called Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) on 29th December, along with a short statement: "Artillery of the Russian Armed Forces continues to inflict fire damage on the positions of Ukrainian nationalists in the Lysychansk direction." Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 310th day of the invasion. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 30th December, Russia had lost about 105,250 personnel, 3,026 tanks, 6,059 armoured combat vehicles, 2,010 artillery units, 423 multiple launch rocket systems, 212 air defence systems, 283 warplanes, 268 helicopters, 1,740 drones, 711 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,683 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 180 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. Residents of Kyiv, Ukraine's capital, have been urged to head to air raid shelters as sirens were going off across the city as Russia's aerial assaults shook the country. The city's military administration reported that five Shahed drones entered Kyiv’s airspace, and debris from one struck an administrative building in the Holosiiv district. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said air defences in Ukraine repelled 54 Russian missiles and 11 drones. Russian forces are said to have primarily struck infrastructure facilities, in the Lviv, Kyiv, Odesa, Kharkiv, and Donetsk regions causing widespread disruptions to energy, heating, and water supplies. More than 18 residential buildings and 10 critical infrastructure installations were reportedly destroyed during the wave of Russian missile strikes. Many Ukrainian regions are suffering power outages, with the situation being "especially difficult" in Kyiv, Odesa and Kherson, according to President Zelenskyy. And Belarus' Defence Ministry said its air defences shot down a Ukrainian S-300 missile in a field in Russia's latest attacks on Ukraine. US President Joe Biden signed a USD 1.7 trillion (GBP 1.4 trillion) spending bill that includes emergency support for Ukraine. The UK said it has given Ukraine more than 1,000 metal detectors and 100 kits to deactivate bombs to help clear minefields in a bid to provide military support for the country in the conflict with Russia. Britain's Defence Minister Ben Wallace said the UK would grant GBP 2.2 billion in military aid to Ukraine in 2023.

These images show a Ukrainian drone dropping a bomb on a Russian soldier hiding among some trees. The video shows the Ukrainian drone landing what appears to be a direct hit on the Russian soldier, with the bomb exploding right on top of them and causing them to fall to the ground and roll over. The images were obtained from the Zaporizhzhia Separate Territorial Defence Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Monday, 30th January, along with a statement saying: "Soldiers of the Berdyan Territorial Defense Battalion remind - No matter where the foot of the occupier steps, the ground will burn under him everywhere and he will have no peace anywhere! Together we will win! Glory to Ukraine!" Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 344th day of the war. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 2nd February 2023, Russia had lost about 129,030 personnel, 3,211 tanks, 6,382 armoured combat vehicles, 2,212 artillery units, 458 multiple launch rocket systems, 222 air defence systems, 293 warplanes, 284 helicopters, 1,951 drones, 796 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,064 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 200 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. At least two people have been killed and seven injured when a Russian rocket destroyed an apartment building in the city of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine, according to the regional governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko. He said: “Rescuers, law enforcement and public utilities are working at the scene to go through the rubble of the destroyed building. It is likely that people are still underneath.” Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said on Wednesday evening that there is fierce fighting in eastern Ukraine, with Russian troops attempting to advance near the strategic city of Lyman. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russian forces are attempting to make gains that they can show on the anniversary of the invasion, which will be on 24th February. Zelensky said: “A definite increase has been noted in the offensive operations of the occupiers on the front in the east of our country. The situation has become tougher.” Andrei Medvedev, a former commander of Russia’s Wagner mercenary organisation who fled to Norway, reportedly said he wished to apologise for having fought in Ukraine and wanted to bring the perpetrators of atrocities carried out in the conflict to justice. He also said that he witnessed Russian prisoners who were taken to Ukraine to fight for Wagner being mistreated and killed. The UK Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, has said that he does not think that it would be the right decision to send UK fighter jets to Ukraine “for now”. He also said that it was “not a solid decision” and added: “I’ve learned two things: never rule anything in and never rule anything out.” Germany’s Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck has said that he is not in favour of sending fighter jets to Ukraine, saying that it would probably be a step too far and could lead allies into being drawn into an outright war with Russia. But Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged Ukraine’s western allies to “give the Ukrainians the tools to finish the job”, including main battle tanks and combat aircraft. Speaking to the Atlantic Council in Washington DC, the UK’s former Prime Minister urged allies to “stop focusing on Putin and focus entirely on Ukraine. Spain has reportedly said that it will begin sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, with between four and six of the tanks set to be supplied to Kyiv. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that the growing relationship between Russia and China represents a threat not only to Asia but to Europe as well.

These images show Ukrainian forces practising storming enemy positions as an assault squad. The footage begins by showing Ukrainian forces arriving on training grounds in light vehicles and practising rapidly taking mock enemy positions. The video shows the Ukrainian soldiers advancing while taking cover behind the light vehicles and working on their tactics. The images were obtained from the 'East' Regional Directorate of the Ukrainian Territorial Defence Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Saturday, 4th February, along with a statement saying: "Recently, the 229th Separate Battalion of the Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defence of the city of Kharkiv was given tactical and special training on practising the actions of an assault squad to seize enemy positions and recapture previously lost ones. "Various types of weapons were used, as well as working out of non-staff situations, such as evacuating a wounded person, repelling the approach of enemy reserves, and others. "Let's stay in line, get stronger and win! Glory to Ukraine!" Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 348th day of the war. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 6th February 2023, Russia had lost about 132,160 personnel, 3,231 tanks, 6,415 armoured combat vehicles, 2,231 artillery units, 461 multiple launch rocket systems, 227 air defence systems, 294 warplanes, 284 helicopters, 1,958 drones, 796 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,104 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 203 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. Ukraine’s Defence Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, is reportedly set to be replaced by the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, Major General Kyrylo Budanov. This is according to Davyd Arakhamia, the head of Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People party in Parliament, it emerged on Sunday, 5th February. The move comes after Reznikov is increasingly embroiled in a growing scandal about financial impropriety within the Ministry of Defence and after it emerged that the ministry had been paying twice to three times supermarket food prices to supply troops on the frontlines. Kyiv is said to be bracing for a potential Russian offensive this month before the first anniversary of the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on 24th February. Speaking on Sunday, President Zelensky said: “There are already many reports that the occupiers want to do something symbolic in February to try to avenge their last year’s defeats.” He added: “We see this increased pressure in various areas of the frontline, as well as pressure in the information field.” Defence Minister Reznikov has said that Ukraine has enough reserves to hold back Russia’s forces despite having not received the latest Western military equipment. He said: “Not all of the western weaponry will arrive in time. But we are ready. We have created our resources and reserves, which we are able to deploy and with which we are able to hold back the attack.” He added: “Despite everything, we expect a possible Russian offensive in February. This is only from the point of view of symbolism; it’s not logical from a military view. Because not all of their resources are ready. But they’re doing it anyway.” Reznikov also said that Moscow was losing “500 killed and wounded every day in Bakhmut”. The British Ministry of Defence has said that Bakhmut was becoming “increasingly isolated”. The UK MoD also said that Russia now had two main routes into the town that were under threat from Ukrainian artillery, which is making it harder to supply defending Russian forces in the town. Iran and Russia are reportedly looking into building a factory in Russia that could provide over 6,000 drones for its war in Ukraine.

This is the moment gorgeous Russian model Violetta Chikovani is dragged along the street on a mattress by a car as part of an online prank that led to her arrest. The incident took place in the city of Volgograd in the south-western Russian region of Volgograd Oblast, and the video has been widely shared on social media.

This is the moment Russian soldiers fleeing for their lives run into a house only to be shelled by well-aimed Ukrainian mortar fire. The footage begins by showing Russian soldiers running along a road towards a house while under mortar fire. The house, in which they have just taken shelter, is then hit by Ukrainian ordnance in a cloud of smoke as the footage ends. The images were obtained from the State Border Service of Ukraine on Saturday, 3rd December, along with a statement saying: "Military personnel of the State Border Service, together with the Defence Forces of Ukraine, are nearing victory over the Russian occupation forces. "The other day, the reconnaissance of one of the mechanized brigades revealed the positions of the occupiers. In order to destroy the enemy by fire, the coordinates were transferred to the mortar unit of the border guards, which covers the actions of our forces in this direction. "Under the mortar fire of Ukrainian soldiers, the occupiers fled from their positions to the village and took up residence in the very first house. Our mortars shifted fire to a new target and destroyed the invaders in the captured building." Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 285th day of the war. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 5th December, Russia had lost about 91,690 personnel, 2,924 tanks, 5,900 armoured combat vehicles, 1,914 artillery units, 395 multiple launch rocket systems, 211 air defence systems, 281 warplanes, 264 helicopters, 1,582 drones, 531 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,497 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 163 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. Avril Haines, the United States Director of National Intelligence, has said that Russian President Vladimir Putin is now “better informed” about the challenges his army is facing in Ukraine. It had previously been assessed that Putin was being shielded by his inner circle from the worst news about his troops’ performance in Ukraine. Haines said that Putin was “becoming more informed of the challenges that the military faces.” Haines also said that there will likely be a “reduced tempo” in fighting over the winter, adding: “Most of the fighting right now around Bakhmut and the Donetsk area has slowed down with the withdrawal of Russia from the western Kherson area to the east of the river. And we expect that’s likely to be what we see in the coming months.” There is ongoing heavy fighting near the key town of Bakhmut, in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, where the Russian military has struggled for the last six months to make any substantial progress. Ukrainian forces are also said to be making headway on the east bank of the Dnipro River after taking control of the city of Kherson. Russia has also been intensifying its artillery attacks on the Kherson region since abandoning it and withdrawing to the east bank of the river. There is reportedly a draft resolution circulating at the United Nations proposing a Nuremberg-style tribunal to hold Moscow to account for its crimes in Ukraine. Rob Malley, the US special envoy on Iran, has said that the Islamic Republic has locked itself into a “vicious cycle” regarding the ongoing protests gripping the country and over providing Russia with weapons. He said: “The more Iran represses, the more there will be sanctions; the more there are sanctions, the more Iran feels isolated.” Malley added: “The more isolated they feel, the more they turn to Russia; the more they turn to Russia, the more sanctions there will be, the more the climate deteriorates, the less likely there will be nuclear diplomacy. So it is true right now the vicious cycles are all self-reinforcing.” Some 500 localities in Ukraine remained without electricity on Sunday after weeks of Russian missile strikes targeting the country’s power grid, according to the Ukrainian Interior Ministry.

The Ukrainian Air Force has shot down a Russian missile using a German Cheetah anti-aircraft system. The footage shows the German-made war machine taking out the missile by shooting it while it was in flight, causing a large explosion. The incident took place amid a fresh wave of missile attacks from Russia targeting Ukraine. In the video, a Ukrainian soldier can be heard shouting "Yes! Contact!" as the Russian missile turns into a fireball and comes crashing down to earth. Another Ukrainian soldier then appears to open fire with his assault rifle as the footage ends, although it is unclear if he was shooting at a second incoming missile. The images were obtained from the Air Force Command of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Monday, 5th December, along with a statement saying: "Equipment provided by partners protects Ukrainian skies from the cruise missiles of the rashist terrorists. "This time it's a flawless work by the German Cheetah." 'Rashist' is a term that is often used by the Ukrainian forces when referring to the Russian invaders. It is a combination of the words 'Russia' and 'fascism'. Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 286th day of the war. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 6th December, Russia had lost about 92,200 personnel, 2,929 tanks, 5,905 armoured combat vehicles, 1,915 artillery units, 395 multiple launch rocket systems, 211 air defence systems, 281 warplanes, 264 helicopters, 1,587 drones, 592 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,505 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 163 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that his country is switching to emergency shutdowns to stabilise the electricity grid after Russia launched a fresh wave of missiles at civilian infrastructure on Monday. The Ukrainian General Staff has said that over 60 Russian missiles were shot down. President Zelensky said that many regions were affected, with the local authorities warning that approximately half of the Kyiv region would be without power over the next few days. At least four people were killed in the Russian strikes on Monday. The Russian Ministry of Defence has claimed that Ukrainian drones attacked two airbases in Ryazan and Saratov in south-central Russia. They said that three servicemen had been killed and four more had been wounded, with two aircraft left damaged. Ukraine has not yet claimed responsibility for the attacks, which would be its deepest yet inside Russia’s borders since the beginning of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February. The NGO Statewatch has said that Canadian-made parts have been found in Iranian-made Shahed 136 ‘kamikaze’ drones. Statewatch also said that components from 30 American and European companies were also found to have been used in the drones. Iran has been accused of supplying Russia with a large quantity of Shahed 136 drones. Moscow has claimed that while the new Western-led price cap on Russian oil will destabilise the world’s energy markets, it would not affect its invasion of Ukraine. Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russia was preparing a response to the move by the G7 and allies. John Kirby, the White House national security spokesperson, said that the oil price cap would not have any long-term impact on global oil prices.

This is the moment one of the biggest shopping centres in the Moscow area burns after it was engulfed in a massive inferno early this morning. The footage shows the burning shopping centre, reportedly located in the city of Khimki, in Moscow Oblast, some 20 kilometres (12.5 miles) from central Moscow, suddenly exploding and sending debris flying all over a car park in front of it. Other images show scores of firefighters and emergency service personnel tackling the huge blaze. The Russian Emergency Situations Ministry said in a statement obtained by Newsflash today, on Friday, 9th December: "In the Moscow region, firefighters eliminate a fire with an area of 7,000 square metres. "The fire occurred in a shopping centre in Khimki. Fire departments are working on the spot, and a build-up of forces and means is being carried out. "The aviation of the Ministry of Emergency Situations of Russia has been put on alert." The Ministry added: "More than 70 people and 20 pieces of equipment are involved in the elimination of the fire. Extinguishing is complicated by the design features of the building, a large combustible load. Due to the collapse of the roof and the instantaneous access of oxygen, strong convective currents were formed. As a result, the fire quickly spread to a large area." The Prosecutor's Office for the Moscow Region has said today: " The prosecutor's office of the Moscow region organised an inspection in connection with a fire in the premises of a construction hypermarket located in a shopping and entertainment centre in the urban district of Khimki. "Today, at about 6am, a fire broke out in the premises of a construction hypermarket. According to preliminary information, there were no casualties. The data is being clarified, the fire is being extinguished." The cause of the fire is currently unclear.

Russia has rattled its nuclear sabre, saying that it has deployed its thermonuclear 'Yars' intercontinental ballistic missiles on combat patrol routes, as this footage purports to show. The footage begins by showing one of Russia's 'Yars' intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) exiting a facility before it is seen being escorted through a snowy forested area. The massive missile can then be seen being covered in white camo netting before a number of 'Yars' missiles and their escort are seen driving along a snow-covered road. The footage then shows more netting being placed on one of the large missile vehicles as the footage ends. The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday, 2nd February, along with a statement claiming: "In the Barnaul missile formation, autonomous launchers of 'Yars' mobile ground-based missile systems (PGRK) were launched on combat patrol routes. "Strategic missilemen work out tasks and introductory ones, including those for performing intensive manoeuvring actions on combat patrol routes in daylight and at night. "The crews of the Yars PGRK will perform the tasks of completing a march up to 100 kilometres long, dispersing units with a change in field positions, their engineering equipment, organising camouflage and combat protection. Also, military personnel solve issues of countering sabotage and reconnaissance groups. "In the course of manoeuvring operations, the units are working out the tasks of dispersing in the forest in order to increase the secrecy of the units of the Yars PGRK. "Planned activities make it possible to check the readiness of personnel, as well as weapons and military equipment, for long-term duty on combat patrol routes." We have not been able to independently verify the claims or the footage. In military jargon, 'combat patrol' differs from reconnaissance in that a unit is typically more heavily armed and can be tasked with offensive action or providing security to other units. There are usually four types of 'combat patrols': raid, contact, ambush, and security. Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 344th day of the war. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 2nd February 2023, Russia had lost about 129,030 personnel, 3,211 tanks, 6,382 armoured combat vehicles, 2,212 artillery units, 458 multiple launch rocket systems, 222 air defence systems, 293 warplanes, 284 helicopters, 1,951 drones, 796 cruise missiles, 18 warships, 5,064 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 200 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. At least two people have been killed and seven injured when a Russian rocket destroyed an apartment building in the city of Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine, according to the regional governor, Pavlo Kyrylenko. He said: “Rescuers, law enforcement and public utilities are working at the scene to go through the rubble of the destroyed building. It is likely that people are still underneath.” Ukraine’s Deputy Defence Minister Hanna Malyar said on Wednesday evening that there is fierce fighting in eastern Ukraine, with Russian troops attempting to advance near the strategic city of Lyman. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russian forces are attempting to make gains that they can show on the anniversary of the invasion, which will be on 24th February. Zelensky said: “A definite increase has been noted in the offensive operations of the occupiers on the front in the east of our country. The situation has become tougher.” Andrei Medvedev, a former commander of Russia’s Wagner mercenary organisation who fled to Norway, reportedly said he wished to apologise for having fought in Ukraine and wanted to bring the perpetrators of atrocities carried out in the conflict to justice. He also said that he witnessed Russian prisoners who were taken to Ukraine to fight for Wagner being mistreated and killed. The UK Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, has said that he does not think that it would be the right decision to send UK fighter jets to Ukraine “for now”. He also said that it was “not a solid decision” and added: “I’ve learned two things: never rule anything in and never rule anything out.” Germany’s Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck has said that he is not in favour of sending fighter jets to Ukraine, saying that it would probably be a step too far and could lead allies into being drawn into an outright war with Russia. But Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has urged Ukraine’s western allies to “give the Ukrainians the tools to finish the job”, including main battle tanks and combat aircraft. Speaking to the Atlantic Council in Washington DC, the UK’s former Prime Minister urged allies to “stop focusing on Putin and focus entirely on Ukraine. Spain has reportedly said that it will begin sending Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine, with between four and six of the tanks set to be supplied to Kyiv. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said that the growing relationship between Russia and China represents a threat not only to Asia but to Europe as well.

This footage shot in broad daylight shows three points of white light described as a UFO as they form a triangle that then begins to rotate in the sky above a Russian city. The footage was taken in the Russian town of Tomsk, one of the oldest in Siberia, which is also an educational and scientific centre with six universities, and most of the time exists with subarctic weather conditions.

These images show Ukrainian troops hunting Russian soldiers who can be seen holed up in trenches at night near Bakhmut. The night vision footage shot from a drone shows a number of Russian soldiers in the trenches, their positions given away by the heat signatures. Explosions can be seen as the soldiers are hit by Ukrainian weaponry. The images were obtained from the Office of Strategic Communications (StratCom) of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Tuesday, 17th January, along with a statement saying: "Bakhmut area. The night work of the 'Adam' group." Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 329th day of the war. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February 2022 and 18th January 2023, Russia had lost about 117,770 personnel, 3,130 tanks, 6,225 armoured combat vehicles, 2,108 artillery units, 442 multiple launch rocket systems, 220 air defence systems, 287 warplanes, 276 helicopters, 1,876 drones, 749 cruise missiles, 17 warships, 4,889 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 190 units of special equipment. Russia has claimed that its casualties have been much lower but provides infrequent updates on its latest figures. The Ukrainian authorities have said that they have completed a search and rescue operation among the rubble of an apartment building in the city of Dnipro that was hit by a Russian missile strike on Sunday. Forty-five people lost their lives in the attack, including one child, with at least 19 people still missing and 79 injured, according to Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych has resigned after public outcry over comments he made saying that the Russian missile that struck the building and Dnipro have been shot down by Ukraine. The apartment complex was hit by a Kh-22 missile, according to the Ukrainian Air Force. The Ukrainian authorities said that they do not have equipment capable of shooting down this type of missile. Russia has announced that it will be making “major changes” to its military between 2023 and 2026. The Russian Ministry of Defence has said that it will strengthen the combat capabilities of its naval, aerospace and strategic missile forces. The Russian MoD also said that it will make administrative changes. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that the changes were necessary as a result of the “proxy war” he said the West was conducting in Ukraine. Ukraine has said that over 9,000 civilians, including 453 children, have been killed in Ukraine since the beginning of the Russian invasion last February. Ukraine has again asked world leaders to increase efforts to remove Russia’s troops from its territory, with the war dominating the first day of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko asked her country’s allies to increase military supplies so Russia could be defeated faster. And Ukraine’s First Lady, Olena Zelenska, asked those attending the World Economic Forum to use their influence to end Russia’s aggression. Boris Pistorius has become Germany’s new Defence Minister after being chosen by the Chancellor Olaf Scholz following the resignation of Christine Lambrecht. Lambrecht was widely criticised for failing to improve Germany's notoriously ill-equipped armed forces. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has told US President Joe Biden that the Netherlands will provide Patriot missiles to Ukraine. UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has said that supplying Challenger 2 tanks to Ukraine was so that the war could be concluded quickly, adding that there is a moral imperative to end it soon due to the high casualties and cost. Finland’s Prime Minister Sanna Marin said at Davos: “I think the only message that we need to send is that we will support Ukraine as long as needed. One year, two years, five years, 10 years, 15 years.” British Defence Minister Ben Wallace will join his Polish and Baltic counterparts in Estonia to again ask Germany to allow for Leopard 2 tanks to be sent to Ukraine this week. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said at Davos that the EU is releasing EUR 3 billion in emergency aid for Ukraine. It is the first payment of a total fund of EUR 18 billion designed to help the country run public services throughout the winter, with the funds geared towards paying public sector wages and pensions, as well as to keep schools and hospitals operational. The President of Serbia, Aleksandar Vucic, has asked Russia to stop recruiting Serbs to fight with its Wagner Group mercenary organisation in Ukraine.

This is the moment a drunken Oktoberfest visitor in Lederhosen repeatedly tries to go the wrong way up an escalator. The man, who had presumably had a beer too many, was filmed trying to climb an escalator which was going down as he tried to go up. The man who was not identified was filmed by an amused fellow passenger at the underground station in the Bavarian capital of Munich in Germany, where the world-famous beer festival takes place every year.

This clip shows how airport staff kept delayed passengers entertained by staging a 'lightsaber' fight on the tarmac outside the plane. One of the men seen 'duelling' in the footage was 21-year-old aviation student Quinten Moshy from San Jose, California, USA. Quinten, who works part-time as a ramp agent at San Jose International Airport, told Newsflash in an interview: "If I remember correctly, the mechanical issue was a fuel sensor in one of the wings of the aircraft. "It's a Boeing 787-9, and the way the fuel system works is there's sensors to evenly distribute the fuel across the wings and also give the pilots information about the fuel quantity etc. "One of those sensors had to be fixed. In certain scenarios we would deplane the passengers or cancel the flight if the issue couldn't be fixed immediately, but this was something that could be fixed to the point where the plane could eventually leave that night even though the passengers would have to wait a bit. "On a normal day this flight would be on the ground at the airport for two hours. I believe this day it was there for more like five or six." Quinten told Newsflash he had not been thinking of Luke Skywalker or Darth Vader at the time. He said: "The original inspiration wasn't Star Wars. We were just sitting there on the ramp waiting and were bored. "I saw the night wands (those orange glow sticks that marshallers use) and thought we could have some fun with them, so we went to both sides of the aircraft and started waving at people and making designs on the ground. "We then discovered that they resemble lightsabers so that's when the lightsaber battle happened. We were just doing whatever we could with them." The clip, filmed by a passenger on 5th July 2022, was later posted to social media and did the rounds. Quinten told Newsflash: "When the video went viral, a common misconception was that all the passengers were upset or mad about the whole thing. "Obviously I don't know what everyone was thinking exactly, but our experience was many people waving at us, smiling and laughing etc. "This is an international flight, and whenever a delay happens our team always does our best to treat our customers well and make their experience better. "My video and our actions didn't get any complaints from any of these passengers."

This footage shows a controlled detonation of an anti-ship mine discovered by the Ukrainian Navy in the Black Sea near the southern Ukrainian coast. The mine was carried by waves towards the coast of the port city of Odesa, but Naval soldiers managed to secure it and detonate it in a controlled manner in the Black Sea. In one video, soldiers can be seen working with a mine that had landed on the coast as they prepare it for safe elimination. Soon enough, the Navy apparently discovered another mine floating in the waters and promptly handled the dangerous find. The second piece of footage shows a powerful blast lighting up the horizon as crews from Ukraine's Naval Forces orchestrate a controlled detonation. The images were obtained by Newsflash from the Military Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on 1st January, along with a statement: "Another anti-ship mine was discovered in the sea off Odesa, torn from its mounting by a storm. "The waves stubbornly pushed the 'floating danger' towards the coast. "Thanks to the prompt response, the mine was detonated in a controlled manner in the sea by a unit of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. "The sea and the body of water contain many such hostile 'surprises'. Do not expose yourself to danger - do not approach the coast, and even more so do not enter the water. Martial law restrictions are aimed at preserving your life and health," the Navy added. 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."

This is the moment the Sun unleashes a powerful solar flare that produces an aurora visible in parts of the USA. The footage was shared on social media by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) on 4th November. The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service, created by NOAA to operate and manage the US environmental satellite programs, said in a statement: “On Oct. 28, 2021, NOAA’s GOES East satellite observed a strong solar flare with its Solar Ultraviolet Imager (SUVI) at 11.35 am ET. “The flare produced aurora (northern lights) that were visible across Canada and as far south as Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Oregon.” Solar flares are explosive outbursts on the Sun that generate intense radiation in the form of X-rays and energetic particles that can sometimes affect our planet. As this radiation often travels at or near the speed of light, it can reach the Earth within about eight minutes. Solar flares are linked to eruptions, called coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which send huge clouds of magnetised plasma into space, ploughing through the continuous flow of charged particles that normally stream from the Sun, known as solar wind, and can reach the Earth in up to three days. The Earth has a magnetic field that deflects most of the harmful radiation. The Sun, which is made of electrified gases called plasma, also generates its own magnetic field, and all solar activity is driven by these magnetic fields. The National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service said: “We can see manifestations of the Sun's magnetic field in the form of active regions, which appear at the Sun’s surface as cooler, dark areas, and in SUVI observations of the Sun’s corona as bright concentrations of loops. “Active regions mark areas where magnetism is the strongest. Strong solar flares are powered by the energy stored in the magnetic fields of these active regions. “Sunspots are used as an indicator of solar activity, and the number and location of sunspots is used to track the Sun's overall activity. Although the Sun may look like a constant ball of light every day, it actually goes through a cycle of increasing and decreasing activity that lasts around 11 years. “Researchers determined that the solar minimum occurred in Dec. of 2019, meaning the Sun’s activity is beginning to ramp up and should peak around 2025, increasing the chance for stronger solar storms in the coming years. Afterward, geomagnetic activity will begin to decrease again and a new cycle will begin.” Increased radiation and geomagnetic storms can potentially affect power grids, radio signals, and communications systems on Earth. They can also affect satellite operations and GPS navigation capabilities. The organisation said: “NOAA satellites help monitor the activity of the Sun and when solar flares, or coronal mass ejections occur. Since these events can happen unpredictably and some can reach Earth within minutes, NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center uses this information to monitor the activity on the Sun and makes forecasts, predictions, and alerts. “As the solar cycle moves toward the solar maximum, NOAA satellites will continue to monitor the Sun’s activity.” NOAA, NASA, CIRA, SUVI, CIRES, CIMSS/NF/Lee Bullen