This footage reportedly shows Russian troops capturing a Ukrainian soldier whose phone screensaver is a picture of Prince William and Kate Middleton during mop-up operations in the suburbs of Vovchansk.

The images were released by the Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD), which said the footage was filmed in Vovchansk, Kharkiv Oblast, north-eastern Ukraine, on December 5.

Scattered Ukrainian groups that had allegedly lost command and combat capability either retreated or surrendered, allowing the 'Sever' units of the 44th Army Corps to push further into Kharkiv.

The Russian ministry said mop-up operations were carried out in the outskirts of Vovchansk, where remaining Ukrainian servicemen were blocked and taken prisoner.

In the video, a Russian soldier can be seen confiscating several phones and holding up one device against the camera, displaying Prince William and the Princess of Wales as the screensaver.

A reconnaissance soldier from the 'Sever' grouping said: 'Today, prisoners were escorted out of the city of Vovchansk. We brought them to the outskirts of the city, took them over, and escorted them to our position.'

The soldier added that the prisoners were moved to a safer location because Ukrainian command would 'try to destroy them' if it learned they had been captured.

One of the Ukrainian prisoners reportedly said he had trained in Germany, with the Russian MoD quoting him as saying: 'Basic training was in Germany. They taught us to run through forests, camouflage, defend, take trenches. With a German rifle.'

He reportedly added that he did not meet the age criteria for German training but was sent anyway: 'I do not meet the age for that. The age limit is up to 35, I am 48. I was surprised. Germany was better than felling trees and digging pits.'

The Russian MoD claimed all administrative buildings and key facilities in Vovchansk are now under the control of Russian forces.

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