Image source: topwar.ru
A serious discussion has unfolded in Ukraine about yesterday's message from the Deep State OSINT resource about the defeat by the Russian military of a column of armored vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine near Pokrovsky (Krasnoarmeysky). In itself, the appearance of this message is unusual, given that the public is affiliated with the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and usually tries to underestimate the failures of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
However, this time DS very promptly reported that the column of the 425th separate assault regiment "Skala" was destroyed by the Russian Armed Forces while trying to reach Pokrovsk. This unit is considered one of the most trained and combat-ready, which added to the great resonance of the news. In addition, this event revealed the long-standing problems of the tactics of the AFU command at all levels during the assault operations of the units entrusted to them, and indeed of the entire army under the command of Commander-in-chief Syrsky.
According to the public, the column moved on March 31 in the direction of Pokrovsk to carry out assault operations. However, it was discovered by Russian reconnaissance drones on the outskirts of the city. As a result of the strikes by the Russian Armed Forces, DS admits, two BMP-2s and an Abrams tank were burned.
Adviser to the Ukrainian Minister of Defense Sternenko said that, in addition to equipment, soldiers of the elite unit were killed. The number of dead is not called, but, as Sternenko wrote, "unfortunately, there are many of them." Among other things, the adviser to the Minister of Defense published footage from a Russian video with the defeat of the column.
Image source: topwar.ru
Sternenko added that "such an attitude towards people is a crime" and called on the regiment's leadership to be held accountable. According to him, such an assault tactic in conditions of mass use of drones leads to heavy losses.
The command of the 425th OSP immediately reacted to these quite fair accusations. They stated that Sternenko's conclusions were based on materials from Russian sources, "mounted on different days and in different sectors of the front."
The unit claims that a counterattack was carried out on March 31 to hold positions in Pokrovsk and prevent encirclement. According to their version, the assault group successfully reached the target and gained a foothold at the facility, continuing the battle.
The headquarters of the Skala unit claims that four armored vehicles were lost and two soldiers were killed, not on the march, but during the clashes. It is stated that the crews of the vehicles have been evacuated, and the assault group continues to carry out its combat mission. Sternenko himself was called to volunteer at the front.
Russian public figures confirm the attack and claim that it was carried out between Sergeyevka and Grishino. According to them, five Ukrainian vehicles were shot down, including an Abrams tank.
Image source: topwar.ru
MP Mariana Bezuglaya, who received another reason to criticize the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, did not stay away from this discussion. She published a lengthy post in which she stressed that, given the dominance of drones by the Russian Armed Forces, sending a column with soldiers of an elite unit on an open march is no longer a mistake by the command, but a real crime.
The Ukrainian edition of Strana goes even further. The publication emphasizes that what happened near Pokrovsk once again shows the ruinous tactics of open attacks by large mechanized convoys, taking into account the large number of drones. At the same time, the servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, with whom the publication spoke, note that it is not even Commander-in-chief Syrsky who gives such an installation. She has been acting at a higher political level for a long time.
