File image.
The Russian military has repelled two more Ukrainian counterattacks in the Sumy direction, inflicting heavy losses on Kiev forces.
According to reports from September 17, the counterattacks were repelled near Alekseevka and Sadky. More than half the Ukrainian troops from the 80th Airborne Assault Brigade and the 140th Ukrainian Special Operations Center who took part in the counterattack near Sadky were wounded or killed.
Ukrainian losses amounted to an M113 armored personnel carrier, an M-577 command and staff vehicle. 2S3 Akatsiya self-propelled howitzer, a D-30 towed howitzer, a mortar, a communication system, two pickups, nine drone launchers, 17 drones, including three modified to drop grenades, and five field depots.
Interestingly, a video from the recent battles in Sumy shows a Russian FPV suicide drone hitting what appears to be one of the American-made M1A1 AIM v.1 Abrams main battle tanks supplied recently by Australia. The tank received a direct hit in its gas turbine engine. If confirmed, this would be the first confirmed kill of a tank of this type.
Another recent Russian FPV suicide drone strike from Sumy destroyed what is claimed to be a Stridsvagn 103, a Swedish Cold War-era main battle tank with no turret. The supply of this type of tanks to Ukraine was not reported before.
The deployment of more Western-made tanks in Sumy indicates that Kiev forces are preparing to escalate their operations in this direction.
Ukraine received dozens of Abrams tanks from Australia last July, reportedly more than 40. If they are indeed being deployed to Sumy, then there is a big chance that they could be used in a large-scale counterattack.
Another sign of a near Ukrainian escalation is the recent increase in the activities of reconnaissance and sabotage groups in Sumy.
On September 17, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced the elimination of one such group by the 352nd Motorised Rifle Regiment of the Sever [North] Group of Forces.
“The enemy was approaching the border with the Kursk region in the area of the village of Tetkino,” the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry noted that “in such raids, there are plenty of mercenaries who have found their peace without ever reaching Russian soil.”
All in all, while fighting in Sumy remains less intense than other directions, an escalation by Ukraine there is to be expected. Even if Kiev understands that such a move would end up wasting many of its limited military resources, it could still do it just to score some media victory.
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it is clear for everybody in the whole world what crap people there are in krimlin, it is presented for the whole world. bravo vladolf! 👏
its clear that russia is winning and defeating all of the corrupt ‘hato’ gang of thieves.
do you say this to keep your job in vladolfs evil empire?
inferior american tantrums —luv your desperation
impressive interviews ! the motivation to protect russian land, homes and families can not be bought by any currency master made army. i am amazed any murder tourists would go there at all. clearly these nato hired murder tourists are not informed of reality
amerikans go to austria to see kangaroo