On December 10, 2024, Ukrainian troops from the 7th Air Assault Corps set a clever ambush near Hryshyne, a village south of Pokrovsk in Ukraine’s Donetsk region. Russian soldiers pushed forward in a column of about 30 motorcycles and quad bikes, with infantry riding along. They stopped at a broken supply road, probably damaged earlier by Ukrainian attacks or sabotage.
That’s when Ukraine struck hard. Drones buzzed in first, followed by artillery shells that turned the whole group into a blazing mess. No vehicles survived, and survivors scattered into open fields, but they were easy targets. This bold move showed Ukraine’s skill at spotting and smashing enemy advances before they could do real harm. Eyewitness footage from Ukrainian sources showed flames everywhere, with wreckage spread across the highway.
Elite Russian Paratroopers’ Risky Charge
Russia’s top-tier 76th Guards Air Assault Division led the charge, elite paratroopers famous for bold, wave-style attacks in tough battles. Instead of tanks, they chose fast motorcycles and quad bikes to speed across open land and surprise Ukrainian lines. It was a high-stakes bet on quickness over heavy protection. But Ukraine had eyes everywhere.
Real-time intel from scouts and drones fed exact locations to artillery teams. Drones waited above, locked and loaded. These Russian pros, battle-tested in earlier Donetsk fights, thought speed would save them. Ukrainian forces proved them wrong, tracking the group from afar. Reports from military analysts note this division has faced heavy losses before, making this blow even tougher.
Bikes Crash Into a Modern Death Trap
This speed-over-safety approach has popped up more in Russian ops lately. It worked sometimes, until Hryshyne. The column jammed up at the cut supply route, perfect for Ukraine. Fast FPV drones dove in like angry swarms, hitting fuel tanks and riders. Artillery then rained down, covering the whole area.
Riders had no cover, no escape. Ukrainian video showed bikes exploding one by one, turning the road into a graveyard of fire and smoke. This clash pitted old-school charges against drone tech, and tech won big. Experts say these bikes cost less but burn fast under drone strikes.
Whole Column Destroyed in Moments
All around 30 vehicles gone in one massive, timed strike. Russians never broke through to Ukrainian positions. Burning hulks dotted the highway and fields and no survivors regrouped. Ukrainian reports call it one of the cleanest column kills in the Pokrovsk fights. Drones and shells hit together, leaving nothing usable.
This stopped any forward push in its tracks. Footage shared by Ukraine showed the scale of flames everywhere with no movement. It marked a rare full destruction, boosting morale amid tough battles.
Second Armored Attack Also Stopped
At the same time, Russians tried a backup plan on another nearby front, using tanks and heavier gear to test weak spots. Ukrainian defenders, busy on many fronts, didn’t flinch. They used the same smart mix of drones and artillery to push it back. No breakthroughs there either. This two-pronged attack showed Russia’s hunger to crack Pokrovsk, but Ukraine held strong.
Troops coordinated across lines, spotting threats early. Reports confirm the mechanized group retreated under fire, adding to the day’s failures. It exposed how stretched Russia is, throwing everything at one goal.
Hunters Chase Down Fleeing Foot Soldiers
Russians who escaped the wrecks ran on foot into woods and fields. Ukraine didn’t let up. Drones hunted them down with laser strikes, picking off groups one by one. Then assault teams moved in, clearing anyone in hiding. No mercy for stragglers in the danger zone and no Russians slipped through to reinforce.
Videos captured drones chasing runners, explosions lighting up the trees. Survivors from the elite unit faced endless pursuit. Reports say forest belts turned into traps too. Infantry sweeps mopped up resistance fast.
Elite Casualties
Losses hit hard with multiple Russian paratroopers killed or hurt. The 76th Division, already worn from Pokrovsk battles, took a huge hit. Replacing elite fighters like these? Tough under pressure. It weakens Russia’s punch in Donetsk.
Each bike carried a squad, so the math adds up grimly. Sanctions make training replacements slow as frontline reports paint a bloody scene. Ukraine’s strikes maximized pain with minimal risk.
Millions Lost in Gear and Machines
Equipment damage? A whopping estimated $3-6 million. Bikes and quads at $10,000-20,000 each rack up $300,000-600,000 alone. Add possible armor from the second attack, and it balloons. Sanctions bite hard as replacing specialized gear for elites like the 76th is no joke. Conservative estimates from open-source intel confirm the toll.
Lightweight vehicles burned easy, but the loss strains supplies. For a cash-strapped war machine, this hurts deep. Parallels to past losses show a pattern and Ukraine’s cheap drones beat pricey rushes.
Targeted Strikes on Halted Foes
“The enemy halted near a severed logistics route, after which Ukrainian units carried out targeted strikes on the column.” That’s the 7th Air Assault Corps’ official words on December 14, 2024, via their verified channels. It sums up the cold efficiency to spot the stop and strike hard.
No hype, just facts on exploiting weak spots. The corps highlighted precision, crediting intel and timing. Battlefield footage backed every claim. For journalists tracking the war, it’s a window into tactics.
Pokrovsk Defenses Hold Firm
Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed defenses around Pokrovsk and Myrnohrad are rock-solid, despite Russia’s big push. Northern lines beat back all tries, drones even shot down a Russian flag planted too soon.
This guards a key supply spot for Donetsk troops. Resilience shines through as there are no encirclement risks yet. His reports stress integrated defenses are working
Russian TV Puffery Quickly Busted
Two days later, on December 12, propagandist Vladimir Solovyov boasted on state TV about “complete occupation” of Pokrovsk. Ukraine fired back fast with videos of the wrecked column and downed flag. The 48-hour lie-to-truth gap laid bare Moscow’s fantasy. Solovyov’s claims, slammed by fact-checkers like those at Meduza, crumbled under evidence.
Footage spread wide, mocking the hype. It hurt Russian credibility at home and abroad. Propaganda can’t hide drone cams and viewers worldwide saw the gap.
Why Pokrovsk Matters So Much
Pokrovsk leads the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad hub, a crossroads of rails and roads feeding 100,000-150,000 people and frontline soldiers. Russia wants it to push to Kramatorsk and Sloviansk, but Ukraine’s grit keeps it locked as of late 2024.
Control here opens doors and losing it spells trouble. Supplies for whole sectors run through. Months of attacks failed, costing Russia dearly. Civilians rely on these lines too.
What Cut the Supply Road?
Why did the column stop? Likely a pre-damaged route, mined, droned, or sabotaged before. It created a perfect bottleneck. Ukrainian watchers, maybe with hovering drones, saw it coming and set artillery. This mystery shows Kyiv’s growing intel smarts.
Reports from DeepStateUA map the spot and while there was no official Russian word, patterns match past sabotage.
The Winning Team-Up
What gives Ukraine its edge? Perfect drone-artillery link. Drones scouted and stung first, then artillery hammered and hunter drones finished. This live kill chain stops rushes in scattered fights.
It shreds elite waves with tech mismatch. Analysts call it a warfare shift as cheap tools beat masses. Synergy maximized hits and minimized risk.
Russia’s Push in Trouble
This disaster spells woes for Russia’s Pokrovsk drive as bikes and tanks led to fires, not feet on ground. Elite 76th bleeds out, manpower dips, and propaganda cracks. Ukraine gains breathing room to build up, shield folks, dodge traps. Moscow’s strategy strains as losses mount across fronts.
Sources:
UNN: Enemy is most active on the western outskirts of Pokrovsk
Ukrainska Pravda: Russian forces lose momentum in northern Pokrovsk
Facebook 7th Corps: 7th Rapid Response Corps of the Air Assault Forces Details
Mezha Media: Ukrainian Forces Repel Russian Assault on Hryshyne
Ukrinform: Ukrainian forces clearing northern Pokrovsk of Russian invaders
Militarnyi: 7th Corps and 68th Brigade Fight Off Russian Mechanized Assault