This footage shows Russian tanks destroying an imaginary enemy in a military exercise that took place near Saint Petersburg after the USA said a Russian invasion of the Ukraine could happen “any day now”.

The Russian Ministry of Defence (MoD) shared images of the training operation online and said the military exercise took place in the Leningrad Oblast region, of which Saint Petersburg (formerly Leningrad) is the capital.

The footage shows Russian soldiers climbing onto a tank and taking up their positions. One soldier who remains on the ground can be seen handing shells to his comrade, who can be seen crouching down with his arms outstretched on the side of the tank.

The conditions appear to be harsh, with snow visible on the ground around them. The other soldier takes the shell from the first soldier and hands it to a third soldier inside the tank, who can be seen storing it.

The footage then shows the tank manoeuvring at speed in the snow with impressive agility. The footage then shows the tank, as well as other tanks, opening fire on the imaginary enemy.

Snow can be seen falling inside the tank as it lets off a shot from its long gun shortly before the footage ends.

The exercise comes after the United States said that a Russian invasion of its neighbour Ukraine could take place “any day now”.

The Russian MoD said in a statement: “In the Leningrad region, the crews of the T-72B3 tanks of the combined arms army of the Western Military District (ZVO) worked out a meeting battle.

“During the exercise, military personnel on combat vehicles covered a distance of more than 5 km through the forest-steppe area. Then, on the move, they fired at targets simulating a tank, an anti-tank grenade launcher crew, and a recoilless rifle. In addition, the tankers worked out flank shooting at an emerging target.

“More than 500 military personnel and more than 30 units of weapons and military equipment of the combined arms army of the Western Military District were involved in the combat training event.”