This slick footage shows a Russian BM-21 Grad daubed with a white ‘Z’ launching a volley of rockets into the sky over Ukraine and then driving away.

Newsflash obtained the video from the Ministry of Defence (MoD) of the Russian Federation on Friday, 20th May.

The Russian MoD said the clip showed “combat work of crews of ‘Grad’ multiple launch rocket systems” but did not specify where in Ukraine it was filmed.

The footage does not show any targets being hit, but the Russian military said the rockets were fired at Ukrainian artillery and mortars, command posts and positions.

The BM-21 Grad is a Soviet truck-mounted 122-mm multiple rocket launcher that entered service in 1963 and whose numerous operators include both Russia and Ukraine.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is now calling a “special military operation” to “protect Donbass”. Today marks the 90th day of the invasion.

In a briefing earlier today (Tuesday, 24th May), the Russian MoD said (in English): “In total, 178 Ukrainian aircraft and 125 helicopters, 995 unmanned aerial vehicles, 320 anti-aircraft missile systems, 3,243 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, 425 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,658 field artillery and mortars, as well as 3,124 units of special military vehicles were destroyed during the operation.”

It did not provide cumulative figures for Ukrainian troop losses.

In its own briefing earlier today, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that Russia had lost about 29,350 troops, 1,302 tanks, 3,194 armoured fighting vehicles, 606 artillery systems, 201 multiple launch rocket systems, 93 anti-aircraft systems, 205 aircraft, 170 helicopters, 2,213 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, 13 vessels, 480 unmanned aerial vehicles, 43 units of special equipment and 112 cruise missiles over the same period.

Russian forces are currently trying to encircle the eastern cities of Sievierodonetsk, Lysychansk and Rubizhne, according to the UK Ministry of Defence.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian troops are trying to destroy “everything living” in the embattled Donbas region, but he reiterated that his country remains willing to exchange prisoners with Russia.

And jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin in a live court hearing, calling him a “madman” who started a “stupid war” in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, there are growing concerns over the impact the war in Ukraine could have on food supplies.

But a UK government spokesperson said London has no plans to send warships to help to get food exports, such as grain, out of the blockaded Port of Odesa.