2 Russian Airborne Battalions "Destroyed" In Failed Pokrovsk Armor Attack

As reported yesterday, Russian forces attempted a 'massive' armor attack on Pokrovsk, hoping once and for all to deliver the prize Putin has been yearning for, then prematurely claiming but actually failing to take.

As more information emerges today, not only did Ukrainian drone units and the 7th Rapid Reaction Corps decisively defeat the attack, they destroyed two battalions worth of elite paratroopers who led the assault. So not only was the threat beaten back but the Ukrainians once again inflicted significant casualties on Russian military. So much for inevitability. JL 

Yuri Zoria reports in Euromaidan Press:

Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces destroyed two Russian infantry battalions in just two days at Pokrovsk. Russia's 76th Guards Air Assault Division suffered the heaviest losses (while) attempting a mechanized assault near Pokrovsk. The attack began in the morning, with Russian troops attempting to exploit poor weather conditions to advance toward Pokrovsk. The mechanized columns advanced from the south toward the northern outskirts of the city, where Ukrainian troops destroyed most of the Russian equipment and troops.

Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces (SBS) say they destroyed Russian infantry numbers equivalent to two battalions in just two days in Donetsk Oblast The figures were reported by SBS commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi in public posts on social media.

Most of the losses occurred in Donetsk Oblast in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have been trying to seize the remaining territory for months.

Two days, two battalions’ worth of losses

Brovdi reported that SBS drone units struck about 505 Russian infantrymen on 11 December alone. Alongside the dedicated drone forces branch, the Ukrainian army and special services have their own drone units. The drone force commander said these losses were inflicted only by external SBS drone pilots and did not include the actions of other Ukrainian Defense Forces units.

He added that the Phoenix unit within the SBS grouping accounted for 109 of those Russian losses during the same day.

A day earlier, on 10 December, Brovdi reported that SBS drones hit another 471 Russian infantrymen. He said this figure also corresponds to the combat strength of a battalion.

Militarnyi notes that combined losses over 10 and 11 December amount to the equivalent of two battalions, based solely on SBS operations.

Map: ISW.

Russian airborne division hit hardest

Russia's 76th Guards Air Assault Division, redeployed in Donetsk Oblast, reportedly suffered the heaviest losses under Ukrainian drone strikes, according to SBS commander Robert “Madyar” Brovdi. Russian forces concentrated in this sector also attempted a mechanized assault near Pokrovsk.

On 10 December, Ukrainian troops repelled a Russian mechanized assault, conducted by the 76th Division. The attack began in the morning, with Russian troops attempting to exploit poor weather conditions to advance toward Pokrovsk. The mechanized columns advanced from the south toward the northern outskirts of the city, where Ukrainian troops were destroyed most of the Russian equipment and troops.

According to Brovdi, SBS data show an average of 282 Russian soldiers hit per day in November, rising to 395 per day during the first 11 days of December. He said the elimination of Russian manpower is now a priority task for Ukraine’s Defense Forces.