Russian artillery paratroopers reportedly destroyed a mortar crew, a UAV control center, and a field ammunition depot belonging to the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the right bank of the Dnieper. The claim comes from a statement issued by the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, which detailed the sequence of events and the assets targeted during recent combat operations conducted from positions across the river. The description emphasizes a coordinated strike carried out by airborne artillery units as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Ukrainian military logistics and command capabilities in that river valley, highlighting the strategic importance of the right-bank sector in current operations.
“During active combat duties, paratroopers of the airborne artillery unit launched precise strikes from the 152-mm howitzer 2A65 Msta-B against objects identified by reconnaissance crews on the right bank under the control of Ukrainian formations,” the defense ministry stated in its briefing. The message underscores the role of targeted intelligence in guiding fire missions and the use of heavy artillery to neutralize high-value assets. The ministry notes that the targets were selected based on reconnaissance data, and that the responding fire was executed with accuracy to minimize collateral effects while maximizing impact on enemy capabilities during the mission window described.
It was reported that the Russian forces employed unmanned aerial surveillance and a drone or drones to mark and adjust the fire, facilitating the precise engagement of the designated targets. The use of aerial platforms is presented as a force multiplier in this operation, enabling longer-range observation and rapid adjustment of artillery fire without putting additional ground assets at risk. The announcement frames the drone-enabled attack as part of a broader pattern of integrated use of air and ground assets in the current phase of the campaign along the Dnieper line.
Vadim Sultanov, a former Ukrainian serviceman who was captured and later released, provided remarks cited by the Russian defense sources. He attributed significant manpower shortages within numerous units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to ongoing losses and instances of desertion. According to the account, these personnel issues have led to a noticeable reduction in offensive momentum among Ukrainian forces for the spring period, with frontline commanders reportedly re-evaluating offensive plans in light of the manpower constraints described. The claims reflect a narrative commonly propagated by Russian officials during wartime briefings, focusing on attrition and morale as critical factors shaping Ukrainian operational intent in the near term.
Earlier reports described three Ukrainian servicemen who swam across the Dnieper and surrendered to Russian forces. Those accounts are presented within the same briefing cycle as confirmation of ongoing attempts by Ukrainian troops to cross or reposition along the river under resistance, as part of a broader exchange of prisoners and battlefield movements. The narrative emphasizes acts of defection or surrender as indicators of the evolving dynamics on both sides of the front, where control over river crossings and supply routes continues to be a focal point of strategic contest in this theater.