Ukrainian Marines Capture Russian Paras In Dnipro River Ambush

The Dnipro River sector has been out of the news for at least a year, as the fighting focused in other areas to the north, east and south. 

But recently, as the stymied Russians fruitlessly attempt to seek any sort of gain, no matter how minor or strategically insignificant, they have made some new attempts along the river frontier. Those have been as unsuccessful as have the other Russian efforts elsewhere, even when carried out by elite airborne units, as was the case here. JL

Dmytro Shumlianskyi reports in Militarnyi:

The Ukrainian 34th Marine Brigade captured paratroopers from the 331st and 217th regiments of Russia’s 98th Guards Airborne Division in the Dacha area near the Antonivskyi Bridge on the left bank of the Dnipro River. According to one of the Russian prisoners, during a crossing over the Konka River to an island held by Ukrainian forces, he lost his weapon, but his commanders ordered him to continue the assault “with a shovel.” Units of the 34th Brigade are operating in the Kherson direction: defending the right bank of the Dnipro and positions on the left bank.

Soldiers of the 34th Separate Marine Brigade captured Russian paratroopers in the Dacha area near the Antonivskyi Bridge on the left bank of the Dnipro River.

The 34th Brigade‘s press service published the video of the capture.

Four servicemen from the 331st and 217th regiments of Russia’s 98th Guards Airborne Division, who were sent to carry out an assault, surrendered to Ukrainian forces. 

“They made the right choice between life and death, surrendering to the soldiers of the 34th Marine Brigade. Having laid down their weapons, they acted according to the instructions given to them by the loudspeakers from our drones, and were evacuated to the right bank,” the unit reported. 

According to one of the Russian prisoners, during a crossing over the Konka River to an island held by Ukrainian forces, he lost his weapon, but his commanders ordered him to continue the assault “with a shovel.”

After the surrender, the Russian servicemen remained at Ukrainian positions for several weeks, after which they were transported across the Dnipro to Kherson.

34th Marine Brigade

The 34th Brigade was formed in 2018 as the 124th Brigade of the Territorial Defense. It took part, among others, in the defense of Kherson, battles for the Antonivskyi Bridge, the defense of the Mykolaiv region, and operations in the Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and left-bank Kherson regions. 

In 2025, the unit became part of the 30th Marine Corps of the Ukrainian Navy and was redesignated as the 34th Separate Coastal Defense Brigade.

In March 2026, together with the other coastal defense brigades — the 39th and 40th from the 30th Corps — it was reorganized into a separate marine brigade. 

The press service of the 30th Marine Corps noted that this will expand brigade staffing, creating additional positions and opportunities.

Some changes will also be made to weapons and training. In addition to general military training, soldiers will undergo specialized amphibious training, including landings from ships, boats, and helicopters, as well as crossing water obstacles.

Currently, units of the 34th Brigade are operating in the Kherson direction: defending the right bank of the Dnipro and holding positions on the left bank.