Russian Troops Plant Flag In Donetsk Village For Propaganda Video. Then Are Killed

Russian forces have been trying to take the village of Vilne Pole in Donetsk for over two months. This week they sent scouts to infiltrate part of the village and plant a flag for a propaganda video claiming they had captured it. 

But they were being tracked by Ukrainian drones throughout the exercise. As soon as they planted their flag, they were killed. The flag was then taken by Ukrainian troops. The immediately irrelevant video was probably intended both as a provocation to the Ukrainians - and as a means of placating frustrated Kremlin officials. JL 

Roman Pryhodko reports in Militarnyi:

Russian troops entered the village of Vilne Pole in Donetsk intending to raise the Russian flag and film a propaganda video. Within minutes, they were eliminated. Ukraine's 15th Mountain Assault Battalion and 31st Mechanized Brigade monitored the movement of enemy infantry and destroyed them using FPV drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras and drop systems. Operators of the 15th Battalion were able to detect, identify, and eliminate the Russian soldiers. The Russian flag was destroyed, and the Ukrainian flag was raised in its place in the settlement. Russian forces have been trying to capture the village for two months, without success. 

FPV drone operators of the 128th Mountain Assault Brigade neutralized a group of Russian soldiers in the village of Vilne Pole, Donetsk region.

The brigade’s press service published the video of the incident.

The group of Russians entered the settlement intending to raise the Russian flag and film a propaganda video. However, within minutes, they were eliminated.

 

Soldiers from the 15th Mountain Assault Battalion and units of the 31st Mechanized Brigade also participated in neutralizing the enemy. They monitored the movement of enemy infantry and destroyed them using FPV drones.

 

The remaining Russian soldiers, realizing the danger, tried to hide in the ruins of buildings in hopes of escaping. However, thanks to the professional work of Ukrainian defenders, they failed.

Using drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras and drop systems, operators of the 15th Battalion were able to detect, identify, and eliminate the Russian soldiers.

Later, the Russian flag was destroyed, and the Ukrainian flag was raised in its place in the settlement. The village is located at coordinates 47.876560, 36.686358.

 

As of today, no enemy advances have been recorded near this settlement. The enemy continues to attempt assault operations, but they end in failure.

The situation in the village of Vilne Pole, Volnovakha district, Donetsk region. Photo credits: DeepState

The majority of the village is under the control of the Ukrainian Defense Forces. A smaller part remains a so-called “gray zone,” which can shift from day to day depending on the activity of the units.

Militarnyi previously reported that Russian forces launched a failed offensive near the village of Velyka Novosilka in the Donetsk region, deploying three tanks, 18 infantry fighting vehicles and MT-LBs, and 41 motorcycles in the assault.

Ukrainian forces responded swiftly and in coordination, successfully fighting off the attack.

Operational Command South identified the assaulting unit as Russia’s 60th Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade.