This footage purports to show Russian armoured vehicles not very convincingly hidden among trees before they are blasted by Ukrainian ground forces.

Newsflash obtained the video from the 30th Independent Mechanised Brigade – a formation of the Ukrainian Ground Forces – yesterday (Sunday, 15th May).

The footage opens with a number of Russian armoured vehicles clearly visible as they nonetheless try to blend in with the surrounding foliage.

But suddenly, explosions are seen breaking out all around them and a nearby building can then be seen billowing smoke and flames.

The 30th Independent Mechanised Brigade joked that it was helping Russia to make a music video for the country’s next Eurovision entry.

The brigade said (in Ukrainian): “It is rumoured that the Russians caused a hysteria on the Internet over Ukraine’s victory at Eurovision 2022.

“We know that they did not take part in the song contest not only because Russia was excluded from participation and deprived of the right to vote, but also because they do not have worthy artists to represent the country.

“We decided to help them create the band ‘200 on Broken Equipment’ and even shot a bright video for them, ‘Burn Russia’.”

The brigade did not specify where in Ukraine the footage was shot.

Russia invaded Ukraine on 24th February in what the Kremlin is now calling a “special military operation” to “protect Donbass”. Today marks the 82nd day of the invasion.

From 24th February to 16th May, the total combat losses of Russian troops stand at around 27,700 personnel, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The Ukrainian military also says that Russia has lost 1,228 tanks, 2,974 armoured fighting vehicles, 577 artillery systems, 195 multiple launch rocket systems, 89 anti-aircraft systems, 200 warplanes, 165 helicopters, 2,101 motor vehicles and fuel tankers, 13 vessels, 427 unmanned aerial vehicles, 42 units of special equipment and 97 cruise missiles.

The update comes as Ukrainian officials say troops counter-attacking near Kharkiv in north-eastern Ukraine have reached the Russian border.

The symbolic moment comes as Russian forces focus their efforts on the eastern Donbas region and southern Ukraine.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has said the Russian invasion is not going to plan and that Ukraine can win the war.

Ukrainian officials have also said that 3,000 or more residents of devastated Mariupol are being held in a so-called ‘filtration camp’ in occupied Donetsk Oblast.

Russian filtration camps have been compared by some of the displaced Ukrainians held within them to concentration camps.