On January 19, the Russian Ministry of Defense issued a notice updating the hot war situation on the southern front, the Zaporizhzhia region.
Accordingly, the Russian Eastern Task Force successfully intercepted a large-scale counter-attack by the Ukrainian army to recapture strategic positions near the Gulyaypole settlement.
Reports from the battlefield said that Ukrainian mechanized units had tried to organize an ambitious deep penetration. However, the element of surprise disappeared when all movements of this force soon fell into the sights of the Russian reconnaissance system.
The most important highlight of this battle was the combat capability in harsh conditions of the Russian unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) force.
The announcement of the Russian Ministry of Defense emphasized: "Despite adverse weather conditions that limit visibility, air reconnaissance units still accurately detect the enemy's formation".
Immediately after determining the target, the reconnaissance units transferred real-time coordinates to the attacking UAV combat crews (FPV or patrol bullets). The harmonious coordination between reconnaissance and firepower created a "fire net" in the air, destroying the enemy's leading vehicles.
The consequence of the raid was heavy mechanical damage to the Ukrainian side. The most notable in the list of destroyed equipment is the M1117 Guardian armored personnel carrier manufactured by the United States. This is a modern wheeled armored vehicle, equipped with a strong anti-mine armor and firepower, often expected to create an advantage in reconnaissance and escort missions. However, before air strikes, this vehicle could not take effect.
Besides Western equipment, domestic armored vehicles of Ukraine also suffered the same fate. Reports confirmed that a Kozak armored fighting vehicle and many Novator multi-purpose armored vehicles were completely destroyed. The simultaneous neutralization of a series of mobile vehicles shows that Russia's strike broke the backbone of the attack right from the deployment phase.
Not only stopping at shooting down the vehicle, the report also said that Ukrainian soldiers who survived and tried to escape from the scene were then continued to be chased by UAV units.
Developments at Gulyaypole once again demonstrate the fierceness of modern conflict, where efforts to concentrate troops and make mechanical breakthroughs are becoming increasingly difficult under the close supervision of the air reconnaissance system.
