Russia has claimed that it has thwarted a Ukrainian offensive near Klishchiivka in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine using artillery.

Footage of the military assault shows Russian artillery repeatedly firing shells with the images then appearing to cut to smoke on a hillside.

The images then purport to show Ukrainian armored vehicles advancing, with some of them apparently being hit.

Infantry can be seen leaving one of the damaged vehicles before they too are hit by artillery shells.

The footage then appears to show a Ukrainian infantry attacking a Russian position before another armored vehicle is hit.

The video then appears to cut to dead Ukrainian soldiers lying on the battlefield next to the destroyed armored vehicle as the footage ends.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) on Thursday, August 10, along with a statement claiming: 'Artillerymen of the Airborne Troops thwarted the offensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the area of ​​Kleshcheevka.'

The Russian MoD added: 'The units of the Airborne Forces (VDV) thwarted the offensive of the Ukrainian nationalists in the area of ​​Kleshcheevka.'

The crew of the complex with an unmanned aerial vehicle of the Airborne Forces unit discovered four units of armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which were trying to deliver personnel to the line of contact. The scouts transmitted the coordinates to the artillery control point and, immediately, the paratroopers launched a fire strike.