Footage has emerged purportedly showing a group of Russian soldiers violently “scattering” after their envoy was targeted in a night artillery strike.
The video, shot in night-vision mode, shows at least four military personnel walking down a rural road before a first explosion goes off behind them.
One of the soldiers can be seen falling to the ground before what appears to be a viewfinder on the monitor moves to point at the small convoy.
As the group appears to lie on the ground to take cover, a series of smaller explosions can be seen going off closer to the four Russian soldiers.
A much larger blast is then seen deflagrating in the exact spot where the convoy stood at the start of the clip.
READ MORE: New blow to Vladimir Putin’s navy as Ukrainian drone assault wipes out control ship
X account @Rinegati, which has been sharing content on the ongoing war in Ukraine since shortly after the invasion began in February 2022, shared the clip on the social media platform and identified the location as Avdiivka.
The account manager commented: “A group of Russian military personnel literally scatters after a night arrival from Ukrainian artillerymen. The video was filmed near Avdeevka [sic].”
The Donetsk Oblast city was the background of one of the major battles between the Russian Armed Forces and Ukraine’s Defence Forces for over a year.
Kyiv announced a partial withdrawal from the area last month, with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirming all troops would move out of Avdiivka less than two days after the initial announcement.
Despite the retreat, Ukraine’s Defence Forces have continued to operate in the area to target Russian soldiers.
DON’T MISS:
In an update released on Wednesday, the Third Separate Assault Brigade said its men continue “to destroy the enemy in Avdiivka direction.”
They added: “s of now, the brigade’s units have accounted for: more than 500 liquidated invaders; up to 20 enemy armored vehicles and tanks; air defense systems, artillery systems, self-propelled guns and a significant amount of Russian vehicles.
“Thus, in terms of the number of losses, the enemy suffered a critical defeat at the regiment level, but the numerically superior armed forces of Russia are not retreating. The combat situation remains extremely difficult.”
Despite its military setbacks, Ukraine resists suggestions of peace negotiations with Russia.
During a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said his country was willing to host a peace summit of Russia and Ukraine.
But Zelenskyy remains firm on not engaging directly with Russia on peace talks and has said multiple times the initiative in peace negotiations must belong to the country which has been invaded.
