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Ukraine: 79th Brigade repel attack from Russian armour
Ukrainian paratroopers inflicted heavy damage on a Russian assault group trying to overrun their positions near Pokrovsk.
Vladimir Putin's army is advancing on the key transport and logistical hub, after capturing Avdiivka and Vuhledar in Ukraine's Donbas.
Volodymyr Zelensky's troops are desperately trying to hold onto the city, the capture of which would be a huge setback for Ukraine.
Russian commanders attempted an assault on positions defended by Ukraine's 79th Separate Air Assault Brigade in the Kurakhove sector, south of Pokrovsk.
A Russian armoured vehicle explodes into flames (Image: Ukraine's 79th Separate Air Assault Brigade)
The Russian assault group included four tanks and 19 armoured personnel vehicles, which were supposed to offload the soldiers close to the Ukrainian defensive lines.
However, they were quickly spotted and came under intense fire from the Ukrainian paratroopers, who used kamikaze drones and anti-tank weapons to repel the attack.
Images of the ferocious battle released by the paratroopers show a succession of Russian armoured vehicles sustaining direct hits and exploding into flames.
The Russians sustained heavy losses and were forced into a humiliating retreat from the battlefield.
In total, five armoured vehicles (BMPs) and one tank were wiped out in the course of the intense firefight.
Another three BMPs and a tank were damaged. In addition, 24 Russian soldiers were reported killed, while 20 were injured.
In a statement accompanying the video of the battle, the 79th Separate Air Assault Brigade said: "Our paratroopers once again organised a 'warm' welcome for the invaders."
Russian attacks in the Kurakhove sector have intensified in recent weeks as the Russians attempt to make a major breakthrough.
Putin's army launched 59 assaults in the sector in just one day over the weekend, according to Ukraine's military.
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In one offensive, they tried to break through Ukraine's defensive lines and capture the village of Maksymilianivka.
The Russians deployed seven tanks and 11 infantry fighting vehicles in the attack. The 46th brigade claimed to have destroyed seven pieces of Russian equipment.
"Two more damaged tanks managed to roll back," the brigade said. The fate of the 28 fleeing Russian soldiers is unknown, the unit added.
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