Huge blast erupts as Ukrainian council building in Energodar struck by missile
Vladimir Putin was filmed firing a sniper rifle while on a visit to a training base for military reservists near Moscow.
The Russian president visited the base in Ryazan, southeast of capital Moscow on Thursday, in an appearance aimed at countering images posted by Russians posted on social media showing poorly equipped troops.
A video broadcast on state TV showed Mr Putin lying under a net in a field, wearing goggles and ear protection, shooting the weapon.
Earlier, Ukraine claimed that Russia has lost 66,750 soldiers so far during the war.
The Ukrainian army increased its tally of Russian losses by 100 from the day before.
Its total estimate of Russian soldiers killed in the invasion of Ukraine - which has been ongoing for eight months - is thousands higher than the number of US troops lost in the Vietnam war.
