The Ukrainian defense ministry has shared images of the aftermath of a battle that it says left dozens of Russian armored vehicles that had attempted to cross the Siverskyi Donets River in eastern Ukraine by way of pontoon bridges destroyed or disabled.
A collection of Ukrainian military photos posted on social media appeared to show not only destroyed pontoon bridges but also damaged or destroyed tanks and other armored vehicles on both sides of the river.
According to multiple reports, images of the battle show nearly three dozen broken vehicles.
The 17th tank brigade of the #UAarmy opened the holiday season for ruscists, according to the Ukrainian defense ministry.
—Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 11, 2022
In a separate social media post, the Ukrainian military said it had destroyed all attempts by the Russians to cross the river.
Russia has had a hard time achieving its objectives in Ukraine. Thousands of troops, hundreds of tanks, and aircraft have been lost to the Russians.
Russia had no choice but to change its invasion tactics after it was forced to withdraw from Ukraine.
The Siverskyi Donets River flows through eastern Ukraine, through the regions of Kharkiv and Luhansk, and it makes it difficult for Russia to gain ground in certain areas of strategic importance. These choke points can leave forces vulnerable to attack because of the time it takes to build and cross a pontoon bridge.
The British defense ministry said on Thursday that Russia was moving units to the eastern bank of the Siversky Donets to reorganize and replenish its forces after heavy losses.
The ministry said that once the forces have been reloaded, they will be used to protect Russia's main forces and supply routes.
All Rights Reserved © 2024
