(Donetsk Region) – Ukrainian forces continue to adapt and strike effectively on the front lines, pushing back against Russian occupiers in both surface and subterranean battles. Recent operations by Ukraine’s 12th Special Purpose Brigade, including its elite AZOV reconnaissance platoon, have uncovered and targeted Russian troops hiding in a network of underground shelters in the Donetsk region.
The battle beneath the earth has become a defining feature of the conflict in this area, as Russian soldiers use basements and tunnels to regroup and launch surprise attacks. However, these efforts have not gone unnoticed. Ukrainian reconnaissance units, armed with drones and battlefield intelligence, have been systematically identifying and destroying hidden Russian positions. Diana Skaya of TVP World embedded with these troops for an episode of Military Mind, capturing the intense reality of this new underground front.
In one recent mission near the village of Zalisansk, Ukrainian reconnaissance drones detected a concentration of Russian infantry and equipment. A swift strike was carried out, resulting in significant Russian losses and a sharp blow to their morale. These precision attacks demonstrate the growing power of coordination between Ukraine’s intelligence, artillery, and drone teams.
Elsewhere across the front, Ukraine’s use of artificial intelligence powered kamikaze drones has added another layer to its innovative war strategy. Ukraine’s Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhailo Fedorov, confirmed the successful deployment of AI operated FPV drones developed through the Brave1 defence tech platform. These systems consist of a larger “mother drone” that can launch smaller attack drones, capable of either returning to base or completing one way missions depending on the target range.
The key advancement lies in autonomy. These FPV drones can independently detect and destroy enemy infantry and vehicles without real time human control. AI analyses images in real time, selects targets, and determines the optimal point of impact. This significantly reduces risk to Ukrainian personnel and maximises combat impact.
While Ukraine’s new tech reshapes the battlefield, the war’s brutality remains. In a recent Russian attack on Kharkiv, 90 Shahed drones and two Iskander ballistic missiles were launched overnight. A municipal transport facility was hit, resulting in a fire, damage to 38 vehicles, and injuries to 11 civilians. Odessa, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia also suffered attacks, with fires breaking out and infrastructure damaged, though no casualties were reported in those regions.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force successfully hit multiple Russian military sites, including a drone manufacturing facility near Dubna, outside Moscow.
