Footage purportedly shows a Russian artillery battery launching rockets at an unmanned aerial vehicle control point and a tank belonging to the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The alleged attack was carried out with self-propelled 122-millimetre BM-21 'Grad' multiple rocket launchers in the area of Donetsk, in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, on February 5.

It took place after a Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) reconnaissance team allegedly detected the Ukrainian Army's location and transferred the information to the commander.

The Ministry of Defence in Russia said in a statement: 'After swiftly moving to the firing positions from the combat standby area, the artillerymen deployed the Grad launcher and conducted calibration shots.

'Following minor adjustments, additional strikes were made against the enemy.

'As a result, the UAV control point of the Ukrainian nationalists was destroyed, depriving the enemy of the ability to conduct reconnaissance in one of the areas and effectively strike our troops' positions.

'With another precise strike, the artillerymen disabled a tank of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.'