Ukrainian Forces Practice Getting To Firing Positions, Crossing Water Obstacles

These images show Ukrainian forces practising getting to firing positions, crossing water obstacles using a pontoon bridge and marching at night.

The footage begins by showing Ukrainian tanks manoeuvring through a forested area and out into a field.

The video then shows one of the tanks crossing a body of water and other armoured vehicles practising manoeuvring into position and firing at mock enemies.

Ukrainian forces can then be seen deploying a pontoon bridge to allow heavy armour to cross a river.

The footage then shows Ukrainian military vehicles rehearsing moving at night, with vehicles seen heading down a road, also in a forested area.

The images were obtained from the Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky Independent Presidential Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Tuesday, 10th January, along with a statement saying: "Always ready and constantly improving!

"The 2nd Self-Propelled Artillery Division of the Presidential Brigade took part in joint staff training of the Kyiv Defence Forces.

"They worked out getting to a firing position, overcoming a water obstacle, preparing for battle and a night march. We establish effective interaction and improve the coordination of divisions.

"The Kyiv region is protected! Glory to Ukraine!"

The images and statement were also relayed by the ground forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and 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 322nd day of the war.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between 24th February and 11th January, Russia had lost about 112,960 personnel, 3,094 tanks, 6,159 armoured combat vehicles, 2,078 artillery units, 437 multiple launch rocket systems, 217 air defence systems, 285 warplanes, 275 helicopters, 1,862 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.

The leader of the Russian mercenary organisation Wagner has claimed that his forces have taken control of the Ukrainian town of Soledar.

Yevgeny Prigozhin said: “Wagner units have taken the whole territory of Soledar under control.”

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked the "heroic" defenders of the town but did not provide any new information about the military situation on the ground.

US and Ukrainian officials have said that Russia's artillery fire has dropped by up to 75 per cent in some places on the battlefield, indicating a weakening of the Russian position in the conflict.

Western officials have said that Ukraine cannot retake significant swathes of territory from Moscow without a boost to its military capability, including tanks.

One Western official said on Tuesday that the Russian and Ukrainian forces are too closely matched for Kyiv to be able to launch a major offensive.

They said that a request from Ukraine for 300 tanks was “not an unreasonable number” in order to be able to launch an offensive against Russia’s forces.

US officials have said that Ukrainian troops are to begin training to use the Patriot missile system in the US as early as next week.

The training programme is reportedly expected to take “several months”.