Footage shows the 'trophies' and the mess – described by the Ukrainians as a 'pigsty' – left by fleeing Russian soldiers as they hastily retreated from an area in the Sviatohirsk district of the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.

The video shows some of the trophies and the mess left by the 'orcs', which is a term often used by Ukrainian soldiers to refer to Russian soldiers.

The footage shows Ukrainian soldiers arriving in an area of the Sviatohirsk district of the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine. Russian military vehicles lie abandoned. Crates of ammunition and rations can also be seen strewn near a dugout after the enemy left, visibly in a hurry.

The images were obtained from the State Border Service of Ukraine on Tuesday, September 13, along with a statement saying: 'In the Sviatohirsk region, border guards as part of the Defence Forces came across an orc pigsty'.

The Border Service added: 'The Rashists continue to hastily retreat, leaving behind the usual atmosphere for them: latrines and disorder, as well as a pile of trophies for the Ukrainian soldiers, and even a dog.'

'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'.

The images were relayed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, along with a statement saying: 'The occupiers continue to hastily retreat. In the Sviatohirsk district of the Donetsk region, border guards as part of the Defence Forces discovered the positions of the Russian military.

'The invaders leave behind a typical atmosphere of chaos and ruin. And this time they left a lot of military equipment. And even a dog. They were in a great hurry.'

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24 in what the Kremlin is still calling a 'special military operation'.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that between February 24 and September 14, Russia had lost about 53,650 personnel, 2,180 tanks, 4,665 armoured combat vehicles, 1,290 artillery units, 311 multiple launch rocket systems, 167 air defence systems, 246 warplanes, 215 helicopters, 908 drones, 233 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 3,501 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 120 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 approximately 8,000 square kilometres (3,100 square miles) have been recaptured from Russian forces, primarily in the north-eastern Kharkiv region.

President Zelensky said that 'stabilisation measures are still ongoing' in the liberated areas, with Ukraine's Deputy Defence Minister, Hanna Malyar, saying that over 150,000 people have been freed from Russian rule in the Balakliia area, which Ukraine retook last week.

Lesia Vasylenko, a Ukrainian Member of Parliament, said that the bodies of beheaded Ukrainian soldiers, human faeces, evidence of widespread looting and a terrified population are some of the sights that greeted the advancing Ukrainian military forces in the recently recaptured areas.

Vasylenko added: 'Liberation uncovers many crimes. It's as if we are on the verge of hundreds, if not thousands of Buchas, just of a smaller scale.' Ukrainian authorities discovered in April mass graves and evidence of torture in Bucha, a city near Kyiv that was recaptured from Russian forces.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has warned that retreating Russian forces are continuing to loot the territories they occupy as they withdraw.