Russia Lost Nearly An Entire Battalion After It Tried To Cross A River In Eastern Ukraine
Vladimir Putin's army has suffered significant losses trying to cross a river, with the Ukrainian resistance blowing up a pontoon as it carried a wealth of Russian equipment across.
Russian forces had been attempting to cross the Siverskyi Donets river in the Luhansk region via the bridges.
However, satellite imagery now shows the pontoon is in tatters with destroyed armoured vehicles littered around the surrounding area and in the water.
Multiple videos and photographs of Russia's failed river crossing have made it to social media, including images shared by Ukraine's Defence Ministry.
Artillerymen of the 17th tank brigade of the #UAarmy have opened the holiday season for ruscists. Some bathed in the Siverskyi Donets River, and some were burned by the May sun. pic.twitter.com/QsRsXmnJ65
— Defence of Ukraine (@DefenceU) May 11, 2022
Ukraine's Defence Ministry credited the Russian defeat to the artillerymen of the 17th tank brigade, describing the attack as the start of 'the holiday season for ruscists', referring to the invading Russian soldiers.
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"Some bathed in the Siverskyi Donets River, and some were burned by the May sun," the tweet read.
Head of the Luhansk Regional Military Administration Serhii Haidai told the Independent that all of the makeshift bridges were destroyed in the Ukrainian strike.
He said: "In Bilohorivka, where the enemy tried to create a solid crossing and transfer equipment and personnel to our side, he was partially successful, but now all pontoon crossings have been destroyed, all equipment has been destroyed and the remaining personnel have either been killed or have fled by swimming across to the other side."
⚡️Have you heard about the orcs crossing the Seversky Donets?
— Ukraine News Live🇺🇦 (@UkraineNewsLive) May 12, 2022
In total, 73 units of lost rashist equipment were counted. "2 army of the world", I remind you.
Among them: #Ukraine pic.twitter.com/yawF3AHASt
According to analysis by Forbes, the 17th brigade's shelling destroyed more than 70 tanks, infantry vehicles, armoured tractors, much of the bridging unit itself, and a tugboat, which amounts to nearly the 'entire battalion'.
According to US intel, Russian ground forces in the region have been called 'slow and uneven' and 'have not made any appreciable or significant progress' thanks to the winding Siverskyi Donets river.
Russian battalions must cross the river in order to advance into Ukrainian-controlled territories.
Britain’s Ministry of Defence revealed that despite Ukraine's recent and successful attempts to thwart Russian troops and their advancement, Putin's invading army will likely 'reorganise and replenish its forces following heavy losses' and try again.
Russia's latest setback comes shortly after military chiefs revealed a portion of Putin's army suffered a massive fail that was their own fault, accidentally setting themselves on fire with flamethrowers on their own men.
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Rachel Lang