STORY: Russia's defence ministry released videos on Sunday (July 13) and Monday (July 14) of soldiers holding up Russian flags in two eastern Ukrainian villages which it said its forces had captured.

The videos, which also showed several explosions, were from the villages of Myrne in Donetsk region and Malynivka in Zaporizhzhia.

Russia said on Sunday it had captured Myrne, as well as the separate village of Mykolaivka in Donetsk. On Monday, it said it had captured Malynivka in Zaporizhzhya and another village of Mayak in the Donetsk.

Reuters was able to confirm the first location of the videos as Myrne from the buildings, road layout and greenery surrounding the village which matched satellite imagery of the area.

Reuters was able to confirm the second location of the videos as Malynivka from the positioning and shape of the buildings, trees and river which matched satellite imagery of the area.

Reuters was not able to independently verify when any of the videos were filmed.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

Soldiers raise Russian flags in the Ukrainian villages of Myrne, Donetsk region and Malynivka, Zaporizhzhia region. Video credit: Russian Defence Ministry

VIDEO SHOWS: VARIOUS AERIALS OF EXPLOSIONS IN UKRAINIAN VILLAGES, SOLDIERS HOLDING RUSSIAN FLAGS IN VILLAGES

Videos of Myrne, Donetsk region verified by:

- Buildings, road layout and greenery matched satellite imagery

- Date was not independently verified

Video of Malynivka, Zaporizhzhia verified by:

- Buildings, river and trees match satellite imagery of location

- Not able to independently verify date the videos were filmed

RESENDING WITH COMPLETE SCRIPT

EDITORS PLEASE NOTE: REUTERS CANNOT VERIFY IF THE BUILDINGS STRUCK AT 1:39 AND 1:40 ARE THE SAME

SHOWS: MYRNE, DONETSK REGION, UKRAINE (RELEASED JULY 14, 2025) RELEASED JULY 14, 2025 (RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY - Must on-screen courtesy Russian Defence Ministry) (MUTE) (PART BLURRED AND CAPTIONS FROM SOURCE)

1. VARIOUS AERIAL FOOTAGE OF EXPLOSIONS IN VILLAGE

2. VARIOUS AERIAL FOOTAGE OF SOLDIERS HOLDING RUSSIAN FLAGS AT DIFFERENT LOCATIONS IN VILLAGE

MYRNE, DONETSK REGION, UKRAINE (RELEASED JULY 13, 2025) (RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY - Must on-screen courtesy Russian Defence Ministry) (MUTE)

3. VARIOUS AERIAL FOOTAGE OF EXPLOSIONS IN VILLAGE

4. WHITE FLASH

MALYNIVKA, ZAPORIZHZHIA, UKRAINE (RELEASED JULY 14, 2025) (RUSSIAN DEFENCE MINISTRY - Must not obscure logo) (MUTE) (PART BLURRED AND CAPTIONS FROM SOURCE)

5. THERMAL IMAGE OF EXPLOSIONS, CAPTION IN RUSSIAN, READING: “FULL CONTROL OF THE SETTLEMENT”

6. THERMAL IMAGE OF EXPLOSIONS

7. AERIAL FOOTAGE OF SMOKE RISING

8. THERMAL IMAGE OF EXPLOSIONS

9. AERIAL FOOTAGE OF STRIKE ON BUILDING

10. AERIAL FOOTAGE OF EXPLOSION AND FIRE IN BUILDING

11. AERIAL FOOTAGE OF FIRE AND SMOKE RISING FROM BUILDING IN VILLAGE

11. AERIAL FOOTAGE OF RUSSIAN SOLDIER HOLDING RUSSIAN FLAG ON ROAD / FOOTAGE WHICH APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN SPED UP FROM SOURCE OF SOLDIER AND SURROUNDING VILLAGE