The Russian Ministry of Defence has shared images of invading troops advancing across Ukraine amid reports of seizing major areas.

During Russia’s “special military operation” in Ukraine, the Russian MoD claimed that invading units have taken control of most of Mariupol on the south coast.

Major General Igor Yevgenyevich Konashenkov, chief spokesman for the Russian MoD, said troops have also taken control of Ukrainian settlements in the areas of Blyzhnje and Tavla in Donetsk Oblast and have advanced four kilometres.

The footage shows BMD-2 airborne combat vehicles with Fagot anti-tank missile systems, BTR-D armoured personnel carriers, BTR-3D Skrezhet anti-aircraft combat vehicles with ZU-23-2 autocannons, as well as other military equipment.

Meanwhile, Russian troops are covered from the air by Mi-24P and Mi-8AMTSh helicopters.

The video caption said: “Advancement of units during the special military operation in Ukraine.”

On 24th February, Russian president Vladimir Putin announced a “special military operation” to “demilitarise and denazify” Ukraine minutes before missiles rained on the European country.

Putin’s invasion has so far caused over two million people to flee Ukraine, representing Europe’s biggest refugee crisis since World War II.

Meanwhile, a 40-mile-long Russian military convoy is currently closing in on the Ukrainian capital Kiev in an apparent attempt to overthrow the government. However, it has remained stalled to the north of the city for several days.

With a cold snap expected in the region this week, there are concerns in Russia that soldiers in the convoy could freeze to death if they run out of fuel to keep the engines running.