This footage reportedly shows Russia carrying out an air defence drill in the Arctic Circle with its Northern Fleet, with Russian military vessels firing missiles and other weapons at mock targets.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday, September 8, along with a statement saying that the footage shows how 'the Arctic group of the Northern Fleet conducted an air defence exercise in the area of ​​the Northern Sea.'

The Russian MoD added: 'Ships and vessels of the Arctic group of the Northern Fleet, which operates under the command of the Deputy Commander of the Northern Fleet, Vice Admiral Oleg Golubev, conducted a comprehensive air defence exercise with live firing in the Kara Sea in areas close to the Northern Sea Route.

'The crews of the large anti-submarine ship 'Admiral Levchenko' and the large landing ship 'Alexander Otrakovsky' worked out the repulsion of air attack weapons of a mock enemy from various heights and directions using the Kinzhal anti-aircraft missile systems, AK-100 and AK-725 artillery mounts, as well as rapid-fire small-caliber anti-aircraft artillery - AK-630 complexes.

'In order to counter the high-precision weapons of a mock enemy, the ships were trained to set up passive and active jamming by electronic warfare systems, and also set up aerosol protection for a detachment of ships and support vessels.

'The exercise took place in difficult weather conditions with strong gusty winds.

'After carrying out practical anti-aircraft firing, the ships entered into a sea battle with a conditional grouping of enemy surface forces and inflicted a defeat on it with artillery fire.

'As part of the Arctic group of the Northern Fleet, the large anti-submarine ship Admiral Levchenko, the large landing ship Alexander Otrakovsky, the large sea tanker Sergey Osipov and the rescue tug Pamir operate in the seas of the Arctic Ocean. In areas close to the Northern Sea Route, ships and vessels of the Arctic group of the Northern Fleet are conducting a series of exercises aimed at ensuring the safety of Russia's maritime and economic activities in the Arctic and organising the defence of the Arctic island territories. One of these events was a crisis management exercise in the area of ​​the Prirazlomnaya offshore ice-resistant platform in the Barents Sea, which took place at the end of last month.'

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 8, Russia had lost about 51,250 personnel, 2,112 tanks, 4,557 armoured combat vehicles, 1,226 artillery units, 305 multiple launch rocket systems, 159 air defence systems, 239 warplanes, 210 helicopters, 884 drones, 214 cruise missiles, 15 warships, 3,344 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, and 110 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 Ukraine's Armed Forces have recaptured several settlements in the north-eastern Kharkiv region as part of a surprise counteroffensive against Russian forces.

US intelligence has said that Ukrainian forces are making 'slow but meaningful progress' on the battlefield, with US Defense Undersecretary Colin Kahl saying: 'I certainly think things are going better on the Ukrainian side right now in the south than is true on the Russian side.'

Shelling reportedly resumed on Wednesday near the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Ukrainian officials have accused Russian forces of targeting the city of Nikopol, which lies across the Dnieper River from the nuclear power plant, as well as Enerhodar, which is where the power plant is located.

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has said that the body of a captured British aid worker named Paul Urey, who was 45 at the time of his death, has been handed over with 'possible signs of unspeakable torture'.

Urey had been captured in April along with fellow Briton, Dylan Healey, and both were charged by the pro-Russian, so-called Donetsk People's Republic with 'mercenary activities'. But in July, Russian proxy authorities announced that Urey had died and claimed that this was due to 'stress and illness'.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that Russia has 'lost nothing' by launching its war on Ukraine. He made the remarks during a speech at the Russian Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok on Wednesday. When asked about the cost of the invasion, he said: 'We haven't lost anything and we won't lose anything.'

He added: 'The main gain is the strengthening of our sovereignty.'

Putin also threatened to ditch the fragile Ukraine grain deal that currently allows exports from the Black Sea. He said that he wanted to discuss 'limiting the destinations of grain exports' with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Putin also incorrectly claimed that most of the grain was not going to developing countries but was instead going to the EU. But data from the United Nations contradicts Putin's claim.

The Russian president threatened to cut off all deliveries of gas, oil, and coal to Europe if EU countries impose a price cap on Russian energy imports. He said: 'Will there be any political decisions that contradict the contracts? Yes, we just won't fulfil them. We will not supply anything at all if it contradicts our interests.' Putin added: 'We will not supply gas, oil, coal, heating oil – we will not supply anything.'