Massed Russian Armor Attack On Siversk Destroyed By Ukrainian Forces

As summer begins to wind down, the Russians are using more of their rare remaining armor on various fronts in hopes of salvaging some sort of gain from their so-far disappointing summer offensive. 

The problem for the Russians is that they continue to use the same tactics they have employed previously, which means the results continue to be devastating for the Russian soldiers unfortunate enough to be involved. JL 

Volodymyr B and Oleksandr Yan report in Militarnyi:

Ukraine’s 54th Mechanized Brigade repelled Russian troops who attempted a massed offensive against positions held by the 54th and the 81st Airmobile Brigade, The attack involved 6 tanks, 3 armored personnel carriers, six MT-LB tracked vehicles, and 1 armored recovery vehicle (ARV) among 71 units of armored and motorized equipment. Ukrainian defenders relied on a combination of drones, artillery, and pre-emptive mining of approach routes to repel the attack. Nearly all the equipment used in the assault was either destroyed or abandoned on the battlefield. 

Ukrainian forces have repelled a large-scale Russian assault in the Siversky sector, inflicting heavy losses on personnel and equipment.

According to footage released by the Zalizna Kara unit of Ukraine’s 54th Separate Mechanized Brigade, Russian troops attempted a massed offensive against positions held by the 54th and the 81st Separate Airmobile Brigade, deploying 71 units of armored and motorized equipment.

The attack also involved 6 tanks, 3 armored personnel carriers, six MT-LB tracked vehicles, and 1 armored recovery vehicle (ARV). A tank crew of the 54th Mechanized Brigade destroyed an enemy “barn” tank in close combat while repelling a Russian assault near Siversk.

The blogger Hunter of the Stars published the footage of the tank battle.

The tank of the 54th Mechanized Brigade moved to intercept the Russian combat vehicle, which was outfitted with a massive anti-drone superstructure, and disabled it with a cannon shot from a distance of less than one hundred meters.

Based on the explosion, the Ukrainian crew likely fired a shaped-charge (HEAT) round that tore off part of the tank’s large superstructure but failed to inflict critical damage. The Russian vehicle remained operational and began reversing to retreat.

The rare tank duel ends as the footage cuts out. According to the video’s author, the enemy vehicle was ultimately destroyed by strike drones during its attempted withdrawal.

The exact geolocation of the enemy vehicle’s destruction was identified [here] by OSINT researcher Moklasen.

The footage of the tank duel is most likely part of previously unpublished videos related to the fighting on July 25, during which soldiers from the 54th and 81st Brigades crushed a major Russian mechanized assault. That assault group also included tanks outfitted with similar massive anti-drone superstructures.

The July 25 Battle on the outskirts of Siversk

According to Militarnyi, the Russian assault in the Siversk sector was supported by six tanks, six MT-LB tracked vehicles, three armored personnel carriers, and one armored recovery vehicle.

In addition, the enemy employed twelve trucks, two all-terrain vehicles, and forty-one motorcycles.

Nearly all the equipment used in the assault was either destroyed or abandoned on the battlefield. Only one BREM, one MT-LB, and one vehicle remained intact.

The assault group also included 12 civilian-type vehicles, 2 ATVs, and 41 motorcycles.Coordinated defensive actions by the Ukrainian brigades halted the advance and inflicted significant losses.

In the 81st Brigade’s sector, 13 Russian soldiers were reported killed and 22 wounded.

In the 54th Brigade’s area, 35 Russian troops were killed and another 47 wounded.

Almost all of the vehicles used in the assault were destroyed or abandoned. Only one ARV, one MT-LB, and a single car were left intact.

Judging by the released footage, Ukrainian defenders relied on a combination of drones, artillery, and pre-emptive mining of approach routes to repel the attack.