Frontline report: Ukraine unleashes intense drone strikes, decimating Russian breakthrough near Ocheretyne

In a significant blow to Russian forces near Ocheretyne, Ukrainian drone operators unleashed an intense barrage of FPV kamikaze drones, resulting in the destruction of over 50 Russian personnel within a 100-meter tree line and the collapse of buildings used as shelters.

On May 23, numerous developments unfolded in the Avdiivka direction. Here, the Ukrainians, while initially unable to halt the Russian breakthrough, have commenced counterattacks to regain lost positions. The primary Russian objective to the west of Avdiivka is to seize control of the Ukrainian city and the headquarters of Pokrovsk. To defend the city, Ukrainians have established multiple defensive lines. Faced with significant losses from direct assaults, Russian forces attempted to use their breakthrough near Ocheretyne to outflank Ukrainian defenses and collapse the front line. Over the past month, Russians have exploited this breakthrough to gain control over numerous settlements.

Despite a severe shortage of artillery shells, Ukrainians used intense drone strikes to slow the Russian advance. Concurrently, Russian offensives near Chasiv Yar and Kharkiv limited their ability to reinforce losses in the salient adequately. With insufficient reinforcements and high casualties, the Russian offensive momentum quickly waned.

Despite their diminishing combat capabilities, Russian forces continued localized attacks to improve their tactical situation and consolidate gains. They attempted to increase their buffer zone southwest of Ocheretyne by attacking the settlements of Sokil and Novopokrovske. In Novopokrovske, Russian infantry assault groups advanced through tree lines supported by tanks. Drone footage from the 47th Mechanized Brigade showed a Russian assault involving two armored personnel carriers and a T-90m tank. Interestingly, the tank provided support rather than leading the assault.

The first armored personnel carrier drove over an anti-tank mine and was destroyed. The infantry on the second carrier dismounted and took cover as Ukrainian artillery opened fire. The Russian assault quickly descended into chaos as the supporting tank retreated from the artillery barrage. During its retreat, the tank was hit by an FPV drone, disabling it and forcing the crew to flee. Footage from another drone showed a second Russian tank sent into the settlement being hit by an FPV drone before it left the area, which was later abandoned. Notably, a third tank entered the village but quickly retreated as Ukrainian artillery shells began exploding nearby.

Ukrainian drone operators later released footage showing how they finished off both disabled Russian tanks with FPV kamikaze drones. The Russian attacks on Sokil followed a similar pattern: armored personnel carriers transporting Russian assault groups hit mines, after which the dismounted infantry were engaged by Ukrainian artillery. Russian forces managed to take positions in a clearing halfway down the road, but their assault was halted by an FPV kamikaze drone. Ukrainian artillery then targeted the Russian infantry with cluster munitions. Ukrainians deployed a Bradley infantry fighting vehicle to finish off the remaining Russian vehicles and infantry.

Following these attacks, Ukrainians decided to degrade Russian infantry in their newly established positions and settlements. Geolocated footage shows Ukrainian drone operators targeting Russian infantry with FPV kamikaze drones during the day and dropping grenades at night. Ukrainians also detected large groups of infantry seeking shelter in buildings, which were subsequently targeted and destroyed with FPV drones equipped with heavy explosives, collapsing the structures and killing the soldiers inside. This tactic also prevented future use of these buildings for shelter by Russian forces.

Footage released by Ukrainians illustrated the extent of Russian losses near Novopokrovske, showing close to 50 Russian casualties within a 100-meter tree line. Desperate for reinforcements, Russian forces in Solovyove sent multiple armored personnel carriers filled with infantry to the settlement, but these were destroyed by FPV drones and artillery.

With Russian forces in the area severely weakened, Ukrainians began probing the Russian defenses for weak spots. Using Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, they opened fire on and destroyed Russian positions in front of Solovyove. These probing attacks were highly successful, with Russian military bloggers confirming that Ukrainians had retaken numerous tree lines and trench networks around Solovyove.

Overall, Ukrainian forces have significantly depleted the Russian breakthrough near Ocheretyne, preventing any large-scale maneuvers by the Russians. The Russians have undertaken a series of costly attacks for marginal gains, allowing Ukrainians to exploit these high Russian losses. Intense drone strikes targeting Russian infantry shelters and reinforcements around Solovyove have enabled Ukrainians to carry out localized counterattacks, retaking control over several trenches and tree lines. Maintaining these positions creates a tactical advantage for the Ukrainians, preventing Russian assault groups from directly attacking the settlements of Sokil and Novopokrovske. As the Russians continue to suffer from a lack of reinforcements, Ukrainians will likely regain the initiative and push the Russians back before they can establish fortified positions.