This is the moment plucky Ukrainian reconnaissance soldiers blast an enemy tank from behind and destroy it with a single strike.

The Ukrainian Air Assault Forces (DShV) said their “spies” surprised the tank from behind and destroyed it with a single blast.

The Command of the Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said on 19th May: “We always appear where the enemy does not expect them.

“DShV spies continue to destroy the Russian occupiers along with military equipment.

“The video shows several episodes of our reconnaissance soldiers burning armoured vehicles of the Russian occupiers after performing a combat mission in the enemy’s rear.

“We continue to fight and destroy the enemies of Ukraine! Together to victory! DShV – Always First! Glory to Ukraine!”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Russia’s invasion an “absolute failure” and said Russian leaders were afraid to acknowledge “that catastrophic mistakes were made at the highest military and state level”.

Zelenskyy also said that said Ukraine is determined to reclaim control over the southern cities of Kherson, Melitopol, Berdiansk, Enerhodar and Mariupol, now occupied by Russian troops.

On the ground, Ukrainian forces have retaken villages around the north-eastern city of Kharkiv, but Russian forces have advanced slowly in the east of the country.

The Ukrainian Armed Forces claim to have killed about 28,500 Russian soldiers since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24.

They also say that between February 24 and May 19, the enemy lost 1,254 tanks, 3,063 armoured fighting vehicles, 595 artillery systems, 199 multiple launch rocket systems, 93 anti-aircraft warfare systems, 203 aircraft, 167 helicopters, 2,157 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, 13 ships/boats, 455 unmanned aerial vehicles, 43 pieces of special units and 103 cruise missiles.

The Russian military claimed a strategic victory after the fall of the port city of Mariupol.

Russian authorities plan to tear down the Azovstal metallurgical plant and turn Mariupol into a “resort city”, according to the Institute for the Study of War.

The Kremlin also says that over 900 Ukrainian fighters from the Azovstal plant have been taken to a former prison colony in a Russian-controlled part of Donetsk.

Russia’s defence ministry said 771 Ukrainian fighters from the steelworks had surrendered in the last 24 hours, taking the total to 1,730, and 80 of the fighters were wounded.