Complex, Multi-Axis Russian Kostiantynivka Assault Repelled With Heavy Losses

It doesn't seem to matter what sector, what time of day or who the defending Ukrainian brigades are: every Russian assault launched in the last two weeks as part of the so-called Spring Offensive has been repelled with heavy losses and destruction of equipment.

Even more so than previously, this does not appear to be the Kremlin's year, not that they would be willing to admit that. JL

Hromadske reports:

The Russians launched two “screened” tanks from Toretsk as a diversion, while three infantry groups attacked simultaneously from different axes. One group advanced near Ivanopillia, the second moved on motorcycles along the Pokrovsk highway, and the third was to approach along the railway. Ukrainian units destroyed one of the armored decoys and quickly eliminated the first two infantry groups using FPV drones and air-dropped munitions. The third group — described as “special forces” — fared the worst.

Urainian defenders of the 28th Knights of the Winter Campaign Separate Mechanized Brigade successfully repelled a coordinated Russian assault on Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, the brigade reported.

“Day after day the Russians increase their attempts to push as many troops as possible into Kostiantynivka. We have already grown used to endless small groups and have repelled mechanized assaults, but this time the enemy decided to outsmart us,” the brigade said.

According to the 28th Brigade, the Russians launched two “screened” tanks from the direction of Toretsk as a diversion, while three infantry groups were supposed to attack simultaneously from different axes. One group advanced near Ivanopillia, the second moved on motorcycles along the Pokrovsk highway, and the third was to approach along the railway.

The plan appeared solid to the Russians, but Ukrainian units destroyed one of the armored decoys and quickly eliminated the first two infantry groups using FPV drones and air-dropped munitions. 

The third group — described by the brigade as “special forces” — fared the worst. One Russian soldier became disoriented under fire, got lost, and was taken prisoner by Ukrainian infantry.

“Of all the ‘tricksters,’ only he was lucky enough to survive,” the brigade noted.