This footage purports to show Russian forces destroying a Ukrainian stronghold full of soldiers with 'D-30' howitzers during a nighttime assault.

Units of the 200th Guards Motorised Rifle Brigade of the Northern Fleet of the Southern military district carried out the alleged attack after zeroing in on temporary Ukrainian deployment points, Russia's Ministry of Defence said on March 27.

The ministry said: 'During joint combat operations in nighttime conditions, the crews of D-30howitzers and operators of strike unmanned aerial vehicles of the motorised rifle brigadedetected a stronghold with Ukrainian militants entrenched in it.

'Upon receiving the coordinates transmitted to the artillery command post, the artillery crews of 122-millimetre D-30 howitzers immediately opened fire from concealed firing positions and destroyed the Ukrainian infantry entrenched on the line of contact.

'Additionally, to effectively strike and destroy enemy positions, the motorised rifle guards applied the tactic of ammunition drops from unmanned aerial vehicles, thereby causing significant damage to the enemy by precisely hitting the target.'

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

The conflict is still ongoing with public support from Europe and the United States fading and businesses reopening their ties with Russia.

Deserters have fled both countries for safer climbs in Europe and Asia.