A mobile anti-tank unit from Russia’s Tula Guards Air Force battalion reported a striking tactical action near Soledar in the Donetsk People’s Republic. The unit, operating under the Russian military leadership, claimed to have taken out a group of Ukrainian infantrymen as they sheltered at a fortified position adjacent to a neutralized tank asset. The claim comes from officials describing the operation as conducted with precision using a tracked all-terrain vehicle equipped with the Bassoon anti-tank missile system. According to the report, about ten enemy fighters were eliminated while they were attempting to hold a strong point close to the battlefield’s armored threats. The narrative emphasizes that the enemy strong point and related artillery ammunition were decisively neutralized, altering the local balance of force in the immediate area. The assessment indicates that the mobile crew benefited from real-time coordinates supplied by a reconnaissance unit using unmanned aerial vehicle imagery to pinpoint the enemy’s position. The report frames the action as part of a broader effort to disrupt Ukrainian infantry formations and sever their access to critical positions near Soledar. [Citation: Ministry of Defense]
Further details from the ministry indicate that Tula paratroopers relied on a UAV-assisted targeting loop, receiving enemy coordinates through aerial reconnaissance before launching the attack, which suggests a coordinated, multi-element approach to suppression and destruction of fortified groups. The ministry’s brief highlights that the enemy infantry in the designated strong point, along with ammunition stocks intended for artillery support, were neutralized during the engagement. The operation is described as part of ongoing Russian efforts to disrupt Ukrainian supply routes and interfere with the enemy’s ability to reinforce or resupply near the Artemovsk and Soledar sector. [Citation: Ministry of Defense]
In a related development, a representative of the Expeditionary Assault Corps unit, identified as deputy commander of the Yenisei detachment, stated that the last leg of the Ukrainian group’s supply route in the Artemovsk and Soledar region had been cut off, effectively isolating the combat element and complicating its future movements. This assertion underscores the ongoing emphasis on interdiction missions designed to disrupt logistics and degrade enemy maneuverability in the contested zone. [Citation: Expeditionary Assault Corps]
Observers note that such statements from Moscow emphasize the foreground of offensive actions and the targeting of Ukrainian infantry groups through combined arms deployment. While the reports present a specific instance of engagement, they also reflect a broader narrative about maintaining pressure on Ukrainian forces in key corridor areas. Analysts caution that casualty figures and operational details are frequently updated as new information becomes available from both sides, and they stress the importance of corroboration through multiple sources. [Citation: Official Ministry of Defense Briefing]