Small, technologically equipped units are capable of stopping significantly larger Russian forces, provided they have the necessary resources. Recently, Ukrainian forces were attacked by Russian tanks, MT-LBs, and six Ulan armored combat vehicles at once. According to Dmitro Pelykh, head of communications for the 118th Separate Mechanized Brigade, the assault took place in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Army TV reports.
More than 70% of Zaporizhzhia Oblast is under Russian occupation, according to Ivan Fedorov, head of the Regional Military Administration. However, the main city of the region, Zaporizhzhia, remains free.
FPV drone strikes are effective even in fog
According to Pelykh, Ukrainian drone operators flew missions in November mist. Despite the poor conditions, they were able to spot a Russian column forming near the village of Verbove and destroy it.
Pelykh described the assault as “very well executed,” noting that the attackers were caught off guard from a direction they did not expect.
“The assault units were moving carelessly. The first drone didn’t even hit the vehicle at the edge. It struck one in the middle," Pelykh said.
When the drone began descending, the attackers realized these weren't their drones. They were Ukrainian.
"The column was completely destroyed,” Pelykh added, adding that this was another response to Russian claims of “capturing” Mala Tokmachka.
Russia spreads fake victory claims to appear stronger
Just before the assault, Russian Telegram channels had reported that their forces had “secured positions.”
“They claimed to have entrenched themselves forever in the Tavria steppes, without even reaching halfway to Mala Tokmachka. In reality, Russia lost a platoon in manpower: there were 16 killed and 13 wounded,” said Pelykh.
Intercepts indicate that some of the severely wounded may not have survived, making the actual toll unclear.
