WATCH: Russian Military's New Year Video Showcases... Puppies?

Pictures: Russian Defence Ministry.

After a year of showing off its military might in Syria, Russia's armed forces have celebrated the new year by showing off some of its newest recruits… puppies.

The one-minute video posted on the Defence Ministry’s website shows dozens of puppies and older dogs alongside unidentified soldiers.

More than 3,000 dogs are used by the Russian armed forces.

Animals from the 470th Dog Breeding Centre outside Moscow are among the most decorated in Russia.

The unit won an international competition last summer against the canine forces of Belarus, Egypt, Iran and Uzbekistan.