Russia has claimed that its artillery has destroyed Ukrainian forces advancing in Bakhmut.

The footage shows Russian soldiers loading the 122-mm projectiles into the D-30 howitzer barrel, then firing at the unseen targets.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence on Thursday, August 31, along with a statement claiming: 'Crews of 122-mm howitzers D-30 of the Airborne Troops destroy the advancing enemy west of Artemovsk.

'Crews of 122-mm D-30 howitzers from one of the formations of the Airborne Forces (VDV) are continuously working to destroy the advancing enemy west of Artemovsk.

'The calculation of unmanned aerial vehicles of Russian paratroopers revealed the places of accumulation of groups of Ukrainian militants in the forest plantations closest to the city.

'The scouts transmitted the coordinates to the artillery control point and immediately the paratroopers launched a fire strike.

'Aimed fire from howitzers destroyed a large group of enemy infantry trying to find shelter in a forest plantation. The enemy was demoralized and retreated, leaving their wounded and dead soldiers in the forest belt.'

Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022 in what the Kremlin is still calling a 'special military operation'.