Russian troops are preparing a decisive strike on Dronivka while wearing down Ukrainian airborne units with night attacks by small groups, Ukraine’s 81st Separate Airmobile Brigade of the 7th Air Assault Corps said on January 29.
The brigade reported another day of positional fighting against Russian army units. Ukrainian defenders are using drones to track enemy movements and strike Russian personnel and equipment. According to the brigade, Russian forces are attempting nighttime breakthroughs, advancing in small groups over frozen sections of the Siverskyi Donets River with “drone-guides,” but are being repelled and taking losses.
The update was posted on the brigade’s Facebook page, which also warned that Russian forces are massing in the Serebryanskyy Forest area and in Siversk ahead of a potential attack.
Ukrainian paratroopers said UAV control hubs are “springing up like mushrooms” in those locations. That, they noted, is eroding their edge in the air and disrupting logistics, including ammunition and food deliveries, rotations, and medical evacuation.
“We continue to mount a worthy defense and hold back the enemy’s advance on the Sloviansk axis,” the brigade said.
Formed on October 7, 2014, the 81st Separate Airmobile Brigade has fought from the defense of Donetsk airport in 2014 and the battles for Debaltseve, Vodiane and Opytne, to the liberation of Lyman and Sviatohirsk in 2022.
