Russia Suffers Massive Losses in Thwarted Mega-Assault

Russian forces have suffered high losses of troops and equipment in a major assault in Donetsk, according to reports and video footage posted on social media.

"Huge battle between Ukrainian and Russian forces in Novomykhailivka. Russian forces numbering 13 vehicles and 200 people were repelled and many were destroyed," pro-Ukrainian user War is Translated posted on X, formerly Twitter, next to video footage purportedly showing the attacks. Newsweek has as yet been unable to verify this and has contacted the Ukrainian and Russian defense ministries for comment.

Novomykhailivka was captured by Russia on April 28 after fierce fighting in which Moscow's forces are said to have lost more than 300 military vehicles and suffered casualties of 13,000. At the time, Ukraine's 79th Air Assault Brigade, which fought there, described the area as "one of the largest cemeteries of Russian equipment."

The X account Ukraine Control Map, which charts the latest state of play on the front line, posted on Wednesday how large mechanized assaults were being conducted by Russian forces between Novomykhailivka and east of Vuhledar, which lies about 13 miles further southeast.

The 82-second video was also shared on the media platform NOEL REPORTS, which covers the war in Ukraine. The clip, which, as of Thursday, had received over 155,000 views, showed a series of strikes on military vehicles in an open field and smoke billowing into the air.

"This is insane. The 79th Air Assault Brigade repelled one of the largest Russian assaults from multiple directions," said NOEL REPORTS, adding that the attack involved 11 tanks, 45 armed personnel carriers, a BMP-T "Terminator," and an armed fighting vehicle, as well as a dozen motorcycles, and around 200 troops.

Ukraine's brigade "responded with heavy artillery fire, anti-tank guided missiles, and drone strikes," the post said. "After losing 13 armored vehicles, the attackers retreated, and fleeing infantry were targeted by UAV (drone) operators."

The post added that the Russian forces lost six tanks, seven BMP armored fighting vehicles with infantry, and all 12 motorcycles. There were 40 killed and 37 wounded, it added.

Jürgen Nauditt, a pro-Ukrainian X user, gave further details in a post that said "after knocking out the first tanks and armored vehicles, other vehicles rushed to flee the battlefield. The infantry, which scattered on the landings, were finished off by the pilots."

The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted in its Wednesday update claims by Russian milbloggers that Moscow's forces had established artillery control over the road between Kostyantynivka and Vuhledar and broken through Ukrainian defenses and to reach southwest of Donetsk City.

However, the Washington, D.C.-based think tank said there was no visual confirmation of these claims.

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