Russian MLRS BM-21 'Grad' Fires Rockets At Ukrainian Military Positions

This footage purports to show Russian soldiers allegedly destroying Ukrainian military positions using a 'Grad' multiple launch rocket system.

The images show a Russian crew loading up a BM-21 Grad and firing a salve of missiles, allegedly in the direction of the Zaporizhzhia region.

The BM-21 Grad was designed in the Soviet Union in 1963 and has been in service since then to the present.

The vehicle seen in the footage, which bore the now infamous white 'Z' symbol, was allegedly used to target a Ukrainian Armed Forces group who were moving "enemy equipment".

The 'Z' is one of the symbols, as well as the letters 'V' and 'O' that can be seen painted on Russian military vehicles taking part in the invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian Ministry of Defence said in a statement obtained by Newsflash on Tuesday, 20th December: "In the course of a special military operation, the artillery units of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation continue to carry out fire missions to destroy artillery batteries of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, destroy defensive structures, suppress command posts, and destroy enemy weapons, weapons and military equipment.

"Calculations of the MLRS "Grad" of the Southern Military District (SMD), when performing fire missions, destroyed enemy strongholds and area targets.

"Reloading combat vehicles in a spare position, the gunners advanced to strike at new targets.

"Reconnaissance of enemy positions and the coordinates of targets for firing was carried out using unmanned aerial vehicles."

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a "special military operation". Today marks the 300th day of the invasion.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 20th December, Russia had lost about 99,230 personnel, 2,995 tanks, 5,974 armoured combat vehicles, 1,960 artillery units, 410 multiple launch rocket systems, 212 air defence systems, 281 warplanes, 266 helicopters, 1,680 drones, 653 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,599 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 177 units of special equipment.

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

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on 19th December, increasing Ukrainian fears that Lukashenko will be coerced into opening a new invasion front. However, the two barely mentioned Ukraine.

The two leaders spoke about the benefits of cooperation while claiming that Belarus still faces a Western threat.

The US has accused United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres of "apparently yielding to Russian threats" by not inspecting drones allegedly supplied by Iran to Russia for use in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked Western leaders to provide more weapons and military support during a meeting in Latvia after drones attacked Kyiv and damaged critical infrastructure on 19th December.

Ukraine's energy system is reportedly struggling, as Russian attacks and low temperatures have put significant strains on the power grid.

European officials have agreed to intervene in the energy crisis and to cap gas prices at EUR 180 (GBP 157) in a so-called gas market correction mechanism that is set to apply from 15th February.

And the Kremlin has called the European gas price cap a violation of market pricing, stating that Russia needs time to come up with a response.

The Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) is reportedly clashing with other pro-Russian authorities over DPR employees allegedly detaining trucks travelling from Crimea and illegally confiscating drivers' vehicles and personal documents for no apparent reason.

The Russian-backed Crimean chairman of the Association of Freight Carriers and Freight Forwarders, Anatoly Tsurkin, has posted a public appeal to DPR head Denis Pushilin calling for Pushilin to regulate the "illegal, groundless actions that are carried out on the territory of the DPR" by employees.