Ukraine’s 28th Mechanized Brigade successfully repelled a Russian assault involving an armored column in the Toretsk direction, Militarnyi reports. A March 18 update from the Brigade’s press service states that aerial reconnaissance identified the Russian column, leading to coordinated artillery and drone strikes that neutralized the threat.

Fotage shared by the Brigade showed highlights of the battle.

“When the pilots of the 28th Brigade’s units R.V., BBPS (unmanned aerial systems battalion, – Ed.), and Kurt & Company, as well as the Phoenix [company of attack unmanned aerial vehicles], began to attack yet another column, the enemy began to maneuver in the smoke screens. But he overdid it a little too much, and one tank fell into a ditch and got stuck,” the Brigade wrote.

Several “barn”-type armored vehicles – better known as the turtle tanks actively used during assaults on Ukrainian positions, were damaged in the engagement. Russian infantry, once again left without vehicle support, scattered in search of shelter and began calling for assistance from Russian drone operators.

“But they encountered another setback: Kurt&Company [drone] operators disabled the enemy drone operators’ communication antennas. Some even tried to defend themselves with a Mavic, but to no abail,” the 28th Brigade reported.

Ukrainian drone pilots located individual Russian soldiers in the rough terrain and struck them using both FPV drones and dropped munitions.

Related:

• Frontline report: Ukraine’s youngest general stabilizes Pokrovsk front
• Russians increase pressure on Toretsk, redeploy additional forces from other directions, Ukraine says
• Russia forms infantry units from nuclear forces, deploys them to Toretsk
• Forbes: As Ukraine retreats from Kursk, Russian advances stall or reverse in other sectors
• Frontline report: Ukrainian elite units break through southern Toretsk as Russian defenses crumble after 9-month battle
• Forbes: New Ukrainian Seth drones wipe out Russian vehicles in “lazy circles” over Toretsk