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Ukraine - Russia Invasion conflict
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On April 3, 2024, the Ukrainian elite unit "Shadow" successfully neutralized a Russian tank equipped with electronic warfare systems capable of countering drones. The vehicle's jamming system had reportedly been neutralized beforehand with the help of artillery, allowing the drones to come into action.
According to a tweet from Ukrainian Front, a US truck from the M939 family was spotted among the Ukrainian armed forces. These behemoths from the Cold War era, designed in the 1980s in the United States, perfectly illustrate how old military equipment can be reused in modern contexts. However, it should be noted that officially, no one has delivered this type of vehicle to the Ukrainian armed forces.
In a striking demonstration of ingenuity and tactical innovation on the battlefield, Ukrainian forces have successfully destroyed an abandoned Russian T-90M tank, the latest generation of Main Battle Tanks (MBTs) deployed by Russia in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, using an American-made M67 hand grenade dropped by a drone.
On April 1, 2024, in the Avdiivka sector, soldiers from the 25th Airborne Brigade announced they had repelled an offensive of Russian armored vehicles, marking a victory against the invading forces near the village of Tonenke. The military brigade shared a video showcasing the successive destruction of a Russian convoy, including 12 tanks and 8 BMPs of the 6th Tank Regiment.
On March 25, 2024, the Ukrainian government disclosed an attack by Russia on Kyiv, involving the use of the hypersonic missiles Zircon (also known as 3M22 Tsirkon and recognized within NATO as SS-N-33) which were reportedly launched from Crimea. This offensive, targeting civilian infrastructure, marks the fifth deployment of this weapon since the start of the year, indicating Russia's intent to test Ukraine's defensive capabilities, including against advanced systems like the NATO-supplied Patriot system. The Zircon missile is renowned for being "impossible to intercept" with current defense means, thanks to its exceptional hypersonic speed, flight trajectory, and maneuverability.
On April 4, 2024, reports from Russian media disclosed the use of two Aeroprakt A-22 Foxbat aircraft modified by Ukrainian forces to serve as kamikaze drones, to conduct two strikes in the Republic of Tatarstan, situated over 1,200 km away from the Ukrainian border. Targeting a Shahed-136 drone manufacturing facility and an oil refinery, the attack marked the first occurrence of such a strategy within this region and the first use of such UAVs since the start of the current war.
According to pictures of debris posted on the War-Home Telegram account, the Russian Air Force has launched the use of an upgraded version of the Kh-101 cruise missile against targets within Ukraine. This modernized missile variant is distinguished by the addition of a dual warhead system, substantially increasing its lethal power.
In a notable shift in battlefield tactics, Russian forces are intensifying the use of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) in the ongoing Ukrainian conflict in Donetsk Oblast, signaling a significant technological and tactical evolution. The Institute for the Study of War reported on March 30, 2024, recent activities highlighting the deployment of these advanced systems in the fiercely contested regions of southeastern Berdychi, northwest of Avdiivka, and along the Bakhmut direction, marking a pivotal moment in the conduct of hostilities in Eastern Ukraine.
The Russian-Ukrainian conflict witnessed its first known drone combat on March 29, 2024, a confrontation that underscored the evolving nature of unmanned warfare. This could be the first combat between land and air drones in history. Images released on Telegram documented this historic encounter, involving two Russian unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs) armed with an AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher and a TM-62 mine-laying system. These formidable machines were subsequently destroyed by a Ukrainian First Person View (FPV) drone, marking a significant moment in the use of unmanned systems in combat.
Russian Air Forces launched an attack on the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on March 26, 2024, employing the newly developed "UMPB D-30 SN" guided bombs for the first time. This advanced munition represents a significant leap in military technology, with a range that triples that of conventional glide bombs, akin to the American GBU-39/B SDB. Capable of reaching distances up to 90 kilometers, the use of the UMPB D-30 SN underscores a strategic advancement in aerial warfare capabilities, highlighting the ongoing intensification of military operations in the region.
According to a tweet by Ukrainian Front dated March 29, 2024, Ukrainian forces have destroyed a radar of the Buk-M3 air defense system. This constitutes the first video evidence of the destruction of a 9S36M, a very rare Russian piece of equipment.
On March 29, 2024, Ukrainian forces relayed via their social media platforms a notable military achievement: the Signum strike drone unit of the 93rd Separate Mechanized Brigade detected and neutralized the very first next-generation Phlox 2S40 self-propelled mortar using a night-operating FPV drone. This self-propelled mortar, representing a major technological advancement for the Russian army, had been deployed on the Ukrainian front as early as October 2023. The action took place near Bakhmut, marking a significant success for the Ukrainian forces in defensive operations.
In the ongoing examination of military equipment shaping the dynamics of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, the sixth episode of Army Recognition's series turns its focus to the formidable Russian artillery systems, the 2S7 Pion and its upgraded variant, the 2S7M Malka. These self-propelled guns represent some of the most powerful conventional artillery pieces currently in service, capable of delivering devastating firepower over long distances. Designed during the Cold War era, their primary role was to engage in high-value targets such as fortified positions, command centers, and area targets with exceptional precision and destructive capability.
On March 27, 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the defensive installations set up by Ukraine in anticipation of a massive attack by Russian forces, which have recently made slight advancements in the Advikva sector. This article provides an overview of the defensive measures the Ukrainian army has implemented and plans to deploy to halt or even completely stop the Russian advance on their territory.
On March 28, 2024, Ukrainian forces released new images on their social media platforms showcasing the Heckler & Koch MG5 machine guns, confirming the delivery of 100 such weapons by the German government to Ukrainian special forces units, as was announced on February 26, 2024. Renowned for their precision and reliability, these advanced firearms are now actively utilized by various specialized units and the International Legion.
On March 24, 2024, the Moon Planet drone unit of the Ukrainian 63rd Mechanized Brigade located and targeted a Ladoga, a highly protected vehicle of which a maximum of five units were produced. This heavy command, staff, and special-purpose reconnaissance vehicle, based on a T-80 tank chassis, was initially deployed during the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986, where it was used to conduct reconnaissance and assess the radioactive environment following the reactor explosion.
On March 26, 2024, a video was posted on Facebook by Mykola Kolesnyk, commander of the Ukrainian aerial reconnaissance unit known as "LUFTWAFFE." The video showcases the successful engagement of a Russian 2S9 Nona-S self-propelled mortar at a distance of 13 kilometers in the Zaporizhzhia sector, using an American Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb (GLSDB). The precision of the strike resulted in the explosion of one self-propelled mortar and the burning of another, neutralizing a threat to the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
A video released on the 'Russian Engineer' telegram channel on March 21, 2024, reveals that Russian military forces have deployed in Ukraine a new drone technology: the deployment of the 'Pchelka' (Bee) FPV drone carrier. This announcement follows Ukrainian forces' awareness of drones, marking a significant advancement in the tactical application of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
According to a video released by the Russian Ministry of Defense on March 26, 2024, Russian forces achieved a strategic milestone by evacuating a German-donated Marder 1A3 Infantry Fighting Vehicle, previously utilized by the Ukrainian military, from the front lines. This operation is of paramount importance for the Russian armed forces, as capturing European combat vehicles donated to Ukraine offers a unique opportunity to scrutinize advanced Western military technology.
Satellite images from March 24, 2024, have provided irrefutable evidence of the aftermath of a strike involving French SCALP-EG cruise missiles on a crucial communication hub of the Russian Federation's Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol.
Attention was drawn to a remotely operated mining system developed by Russia, showcasing an interesting evolution in Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV) technology and an innovative approach. This unmanned vehicle is equipped with PKM-1 mining kits and K-cassettes, tools designed for remote mine deployment. The relatively modest cost of this system is estimated at $3,855.
According to information released on March 24, 2024, by Ukrainian media “EUROMAIDAN”, Ukraine has been conducting precision strikes against Russian oil refineries using its domestically developed unmanned aircraft, the "Liutyi." These operations have extended up to 800 kilometers inside Russian territory. The "Liutyi" drone, which bears a striking resemblance to the Turkish-manufactured Bayraktar TB2 in design, is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) designed for either remotely controlled or autonomous flight operations.
On March 22, 2024, Mariusz Cielma reported the first known loss of a Polish-made M120 Rak 120mm self-propelled mortar while in service with the Ukrainian Army. Although the exact cause of the destruction remains uncertain (Russian mine, drone, artillery?), video images seem to indicate that it was caused by the detonation of ammunition stored in the vehicle's hull and turret.
In a remarkable display of skill and ingenuity amidst a challenging military context, Ukrainian soldiers from the President's Special Brigade have successfully downed a Russian cruise missile using the FIM-92 Stinger MAn-Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS). This event took place during a large-scale Russian aerial drone and missile assault on the night of March 22, 2024.
In an incredible display of strategic acumen and sharpshooting skill, a Ukrainian sniper has been captured on video employing new tactics to protect the nation's modern combat vehicles from capture by Russian forces. The footage, which has swiftly garnered attention worldwide, showcases the sniper's precision and tactical prowess in preventing Russian soldiers from nearing an abandoned Leopard 2A6 tank, a piece of military hardware that symbolizes the apex of armored vehicle technology. This act of defense not only highlights the ingenuity of Ukrainian forces but also underscores the critical importance of such assets on the battlefield.
