Ukrainian troops have declared the “hunting season” open as they take on Russia’s crack armoured units in the east of the country.

New footage reportedly shows Ukrainian military forces targeting and destroying Russian military vehicles.

Newsflash obtained the images from the 30th Separate Mechanised Brigade on Monday, 11th April, and they said: “The ‘hunting’ season for Russian equipment continues!

“Once again, Kobzon’s supporters were sent to meet him. Whoever came to seize Ukrainian land will be destroyed. May our enemies burn in hell!”

Joseph Kobzon was a hugely popular Soviet and Russian singer who died in 2018.

The exact location where the images were filmed was not revealed, but the 30th Separate Mechanised Brigade is reportedly deployed to the contested Donetsk region, in eastern Ukraine, while its headquarters are in the city of Novohrad-Volynskyi, in the country’s north.

The 30th Separate Mechanised Brigade is also known as the 30th Prince Konstanty Ostrogski Mechanised Brigade. It is part of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ Ground Forces. The full name of the unit is 30th Separate Mechanised Brigade “Konstanty Ostrogski”.

The 30th Mechanised Brigade has a long history, dating at least as far back as World War II, during which it served as a Soviet cavalry unit before it was mechanised in 1945. It became part of the Ukrainian military in 1991, with the collapse of the Soviet Union.

After Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, the unit ditched all its Soviet decorations, in 2015.

In 2018, by presidential decree under the government of Petro Poroshenk, it was given a new honourific title, “Prince Constantine of Ostroh,” in reference to Konstanty Wasyl Ostrogski, a military leader and Lithuanian prince who took part in military campaigns against Tatars and the Grand Duchy of Moscow at the end of the 15th century.

He went on to take part in other victorious military campaigns against Russians. Despite his loyalty to Catholic Poland and his opposition to the Grand Duchy of Moscow, he was a devout, lifelong Orthodox Christian.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that Russian forces are building up in preparation of an intensification of the conflict in eastern Ukraine.

The US and the UK are investigating claims Russia may have used chemical weapons in Mariupol, with President Zelenskyy reminding his allies of their statements that this would change the nature of the conflict. Pro-Russian separatists have denied the claims.