Russian soldiers boast of killing 'seven giant British fighters' during trench warfare in Ukraine in official ministry of defence video - before their claim is mocked over 'lack of evidence'

The Russian defence ministry has made an extraordinary and unproven claim that it has killed seven 'giant British fighters' in Ukraine.

The ministry's TV channel showed footage of trench combat said to be in Ukraine, and testimony from Russian servicemen, but no hard evidence of the claims.

The alleged British 'mercenaries' were 'twice the size' of Vladimir Putin's fighters.

'In a battle for a stronghold, Russian servicemen destroyed a group of British mercenaries,' claimed Zvezda channel. 'A six-man assault team from the Central Military District (CMD) stormed an enemy stronghold.'

A fighter whose face is largely covered said: 'It was unexpected for them.

The Russian defence ministry has made an extraordinary and unproven claim that it has killed seven 'giant British fighters' in Ukraine. Pictured: A video released by the ministry

The alleged British 'mercenaries' were 'twice the size' of Vladimir Putin's fighters, according to Russian fighters seen speaking in the video released by Russia's Ministry of Defence

Russian soldiers are shown crawling towards the trench while a Ukrainian soldier holds his position, before he is eventually taken down by a blast.

The Russian version of events has been disputed, with usually pro-Kremlin Ukrainian blogger Anatoliy Shariy saying the Russian video shows 'no mercenaries'.

'There were ordinary fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and it is strange to imagine that all seven servicemen on the site were British,' he said, challenging Russia to release proof of their claims.

'If they were British - show their documents,' he demanded. 'Russia claimed they were British based on them being "healthy" and "taller than us, bigger than us". The chevrons supposedly on their uniforms were not shown.

Mocking the claim, Shariy said: 'I think if they are healthy, then they are Dutch, not British. Or Vikings and Scythians.'

Russia has often made the claim that Western fighters including regular forces are operating in Ukraine as it parrots the version of the war that Putin's forces are now engaged against the massed ranks of NATO.

This helps officials in Moscow in their efforts to frame Putin's invasion as an existential fight for Russia against the west. 

Kyiv and its western allies say the war is nothing but an imperialistic land grab, and an attempt to eradicate a sovereign country.

Last week, classified US intelligence documents which emerged in a leak online appeared to show that 50 British special forces are operating in Ukraine. 

Britain's Ministry of Defence denied the reports, and warned against taking allegations contained in the reported leak of classified information at 'face value'.
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Pictured: An explosion is seen amid the trench battle in drone footage released by Russia

Pictured: Ukrainian servicemen return from heavy fighting amid Russia?s attack on Ukraine, close to Bakhmut, Ukraine, April 15

Posting on Twitter, the MoD said: 'The widely reported leak of alleged classified US information has demonstrated a serious level of inaccuracy.'

The documents did not say in what capacity British special forces are supposedly operating in Ukraine.

Former head of the Royal Marines, Lt. Gen. Robert Magowan, confirmed in December that British commandos had already deployed twice to Ukraine in 2022 - first in January to evacuate the British Embassy in Kyiv, and again in April 'to provide protection to critical personnel'.

Lt Gen Magowan said the personnel had served in Ukraine 'with a high level of political and military risk'.