This is the moment pro-Russian LPR troops load up their rocket launchers on a leafy lane and fire on enemy targets as the ‘special military operation’ enters its 98th day.

The People’s Militia (NM) of the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic (LPR) said in a statement on 31st May: “During clashes with units of the defence department, over the past day, the enemy suffered losses in manpower and military equipment, namely: 23 personnel, 3 tanks, 4 vehicles.

“The enemy continues to terrorise the civilian population of the Republic, shelling civilian infrastructure of the front-line settlements of the LPR, which do not pose a danger to the enemy and are not military facilities.

“Over the past day, the Ukrainian armed formations fired 12 missiles from 120-mm mortars at the settlement of Pervomaisk.

“Also, the Armed Forces of Ukraine used ‘Hurricane’ MLRS (multi-launch rocket system) to bomb the settlements of Popasnaya and Stakhanov, firing five shells.

“As a result of the shelling in Stakhanov, 2 people were killed, 24 people were injured, of which 8 were children. The attack also damaged 2 infrastructure facilities, a school and a hospital.

“In order to suppress the enemy’s fire activity on civilians of the Republic, the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, from where the missiles were fired, were promptly detected and destroyed by the on-duty firepower of the NM LPR units.

“The forces of the NM of the LPR, together with public organisations, continue to deliver humanitarian aid to residents of the liberated territories, as well as to frontline settlements of the Republic.

“Yesterday, volunteers of the NGO ‘Food for Life, Donbass’, with the support of the NM of the LPR, delivered hot meals and food packages, including sweets and fruits, to residents of Rubizhne.

Russian troops invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is still calling a “special military operation”. Today marks the 98th day of the campaign.

From 24th February to 1st June, the total combat losses of Russian troops stand at around 30,700 personnel, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian military also claims that Russia has lost 1,361 tanks, 3,343 armoured fighting vehicles, 659 artillery systems, 207 multiple launch rocket systems, 94 anti-aircraft systems, 208 warplanes, 175 helicopters, 2,290 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, 13 vessels, 519 unmanned aerial vehicles, 49 units of special equipment, and 120 cruise missiles.