The Ukrainian Defence Forces have successfully destroyed a Russian convoy in the Novopavlivka sector, a significant operation carried out by the 3rd Mechanized Battalion of the Separate Presidential Brigade and the 31st Mechanized Brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The operation was carried out in response to a Russian attempt to use unfavourable weather conditions for reconnaissance before launching an attack on Ukrainian positions.
The enemy’s plan involved sending three infantry fighting vehicles, along with infantry troops and a number of motorcycles, in an attempt to break through Ukrainian defences. However, the Russians were caught off guard by the skilled and swift response of the Ukrainian forces. Video footage released by the Presidential Brigade’s press service shows the destruction of Russian armoured vehicles, including a tank, which was disabled after targeted drone strikes.
The operation saw Ukrainian soldiers using FPV (First-Person View) drones to target the enemy convoy. The drones hit the vehicles, forcing them to be immobilised and abandoned by the Russians. The Ukrainian forces then ensured the vehicles could not be recovered by launching further drone strikes to destroy the vehicles completely.
In one striking moment, a Russian tank was destroyed, and ammunition inside the tank ignited, causing flames to erupt from the tank’s cannon. It remains unclear whether the crew were inside at the time of the strike. The remnants of the Russian infantry, who had fled into nearby thickets, were later dealt with by Ukrainian forces.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, on April 1, Ukrainian forces repelled eight Russian assaults near the settlements of Kostiantynivka and Rozlyv in the Novopavlivka direction. Despite heavy opposition, the Russian forces continue their relentless attempts to capture the entire Donetsk region, throwing wave after wave of troops at Ukrainian positions.
Notably, the invaders have been using unconventional means in their assaults, often sending civilian cars, motorcycles, and even electric scooters in an attempt to bypass Ukrainian defences. These desperate measures highlight the ongoing pressure the Russians are facing as they struggle to gain ground in the region.
