Lyman Direction, August 31 – In a striking display of battlefield agility, Ukrainian forces have outmaneuvered a Russian flanking maneuver and reclaimed a strategic town in Donetsk.
Following the liberation of Ridkodub through coordinated drone reconnaissance and rapid maneuver warfare, Russian command attempted a multi-pronged envelopment from the west (via Zelena Dolyna) and the south. However, the vast swathes of open terrain ahead of Ukrainian positions and near-total surveillance via FPV drones made the stealth approach impossible.
As Russian infantry advanced, they were tracked and targeted almost instantly. Video intelligence reveals that squads were eliminated one by one across open fields, unable to withstand Ukrainian drone-delivered munitions or evade pinpoint artillery fire.
By the time Russian units closed in, Ukrainian commanders had already consolidated defenses in Ridkodub, anticipating the flank. The ensuing chaos broke Russian momentum, inflicting heavy losses before any contact was made. Unable to coordinate or reinforce, numerous attackers became pinned down, unable to retreat or receive medical aid under relentless Ukrainian pressure.
Capitalizing on the collapse, forces from the Third Army Corps launched a swift offensive toward Novomykhailivka, targeting gaps left in Russia’s defenses. Drones led the advance—softening resistance with aerial strikes and marking targets—while ground units pushed forward to secure the town.
