Russia Shows Crews Of Self-Propelled Howitzer Firing At Ukrainian Military Positions

This footage purports to show Russian crews of self-propelled howitzers firing at Ukrainian military positions and allegedly destroying Ukrainian manpower and military equipment.

In the footage which Newsflash obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on 27th December, a group of Russian occupiers can be seen riding aboard a 'Z'-daubed military vehicle as they allegedly head to combat.

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 crew can then be seen stationing the howitzer in a wooded area, allegedly somewhere in Ukraine, before firing at unseen targets.

The Russian MoD said in a statement obtained by Newsflash: "Crews of 152-mm Gvozdika self-propelled howitzers of the Arctic formation of the Northern Fleet continue to successfully carry out combat missions in the zone of the special military operation.

"Artillerymen of the formation strike at all types of fortifications of the armed forces of Ukraine, destroy manpower, weapons and equipment of the enemy.

"Crews of self-propelled artillery howitzers, after completing the assigned fire mission, move to other positions for firing and continue to deliver accurate strikes against units of Ukrainian nationalists."

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 307th day of the invasion.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 27th December, Russia had lost about 103,220 personnel, 3,016 tanks, 6,024 armoured combat vehicles, 1,998 artillery units, 418 multiple launch rocket systems, 212 air defence systems, 283 warplanes, 267 helicopters, 1,707 drones, 653 cruise missiles, 16 warships, 4,652 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.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called for a "peace" summit with Russia at the United Nations, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres as mediator.

But Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov responded with an ultimatum for Ukraine to either surrender Russian-controlled territory or have the Russian army decide for them.

And a UN spokesperson said that the secretary-general would only agree to meditate only "if all parties want him to mediate".

Ukraine called for Russia to be removed as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, accusing it of violating international law.

Nearly nine million Ukrainians are left without electricity as power shortages keep persisting, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

A drone believed to be Ukrainian reached deep into Russia's airspace, causing a deadly explosion at the main base for Moscow’s Tu-95 and Tu-160 nuclear-capable strategic bombers.

The Russian military reported that it shot down a Ukrainian drone approaching the Engels airbase, where three servicemen were killed by falling debris.

Russia's Defence Ministry claimed no Russian aircraft were damaged in the explosion.

The Ukrainian Main Military Intelligence Directorate (GUR) reported that former Chief of Staff of the Eastern Military District Lieutenant General Evgeny Valerivich Nikiforov, a Wagner Group-linked Russian officer, was appointed commander of the Russian Western Military District.

Nikiforov has previous experience commanding elements of the Wagner Group in Donbas from 2014 to 2015.

Russia’s Federal Security Service claimed that a Ukrainian "sabotage group" had allegedly been eliminated while trying to enter the Bryansk region, which lies near the Ukrainian border.