Russia has said that it has destroyed Ukrainian forces trying to break through its defences north of Bakhmut.

The footage shows three Russian soldiers removing camo netting and driving a 2S9 'Nona-S' self-propelled mortar out of a forest before repeatedly opening fire, presumably on Ukrainian positions.

The images were obtained from the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) on Thursday October 12 along with a statement claiming: 'Crews of a self-propelled artillery division of the Tula Airborne Forces inflict fire damage on the troops of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.'

The Russian MoD added: 'Artillery units of 120-mm self-propelled guns 2S9 'Nona-S' of the Tula Airborne Forces daily carry out combat work to destroy manpower and equipment of Ukrainian nationalists trying to break through our defences from the north of Artemovsk [Bakhmut].

'The crews of the Nona-S self-propelled guns marched to the firing positions and, after aiming along a mounted trajectory from open positions, fired at the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, inflicting fire damage on them.

'Having completed the fire mission, the artillery paratroopers quickly change firing positions.'


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