**Russian Forces Meet Lethal Resistance on Hrodivka-Myrnohrad Road**
In a significant development on the battlefield, Russian commanders have attempted to exploit a 5-kilometer paved road between Hrodivka and Myrnohrad’s southern district. However, their plans were foiled by a well-prepared Ukrainian killzone of mines, observation posts, and drone operators.
**Ukrainian Drones Strike at the Heart of Russian Forces**
On May 13, Ukrainian incendiary drones swooped in to engage a Russian mechanized column as it barely cleared its staging area. The strike caught the vehicles in the open, setting equipment and fuel ablaze in mere minutes before the assault had even started.
**A Foothold in Myrnohrad: A Strategic Objective**
The goal of the Russian forces in this area is to establish a foothold in Myrnograd, initiating large-scale urban combat in the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration. The southern part of Myrnohrad is distant and detached from the core part of the city, making it more vulnerable to Russian assaults.
**A Killzone of Fortifications**
However, Ukrainian forces have built a network of fortifications around the Hrodivka-Myrnohrad road, including two powerful strongholds built in 2015. These fortifications are heavily reinforced with concrete bunkers, trenches, and dugouts that overlook the road. Anti-tank mines have also been scattered across the road, forcing Russian units to slow down and use mine rollers on their lead vehicles.
**A Lethal Funnel for Russian Forces**
To compound the threat, Ukrainian engineers have built anti-tank ditches and dragon teeth across the fields surrounding the road, effectively turning it into a killzone. This means that any Russian advance would be forced to drive slowly along the paved road, deactivating anti-tank mines while exposing themselves to Ukrainian strikes.
**Russian Mechanized Platoon Destroyed in Minutes**
Geolocated combat footage reveals how a Russian mechanized platoon, consisting of a tank and two BMPs, was immediately detected by Ukrainian forces stationed at observation points. The lead tank was equipped with a mine roller, but this only made it an easier target for the Ukrainians. As soon as the Russians started their assault, Ukrainian FPV drone operators struck the Russian vehicles’ engines, effectively immobilizing them.
**Panic and Retreat among Russian Forces**
The sudden destruction of their mechanized platoon led to panic among Russian soldiers in the convoy. They attempted to advance on foot, but this only exposed themselves to Ukrainian FPV drones, leading to quick eliminations. Others fled to the rear, leaving their damaged vehicles behind.
**A Poorly Calculated Assault**
Overall, the Russians launched a poorly calculated assault that almost completely ignored the strong networks of fortifications made by the Ukrainians. This forced them into a narrow kill zone where they were destroyed in minutes.
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