Ukrainian Troops Repel Russian Invasion Near Stepove with Cluster Munitions

Ukrainian troops stopped the invaders' assault with cluster munitions in the Avdiivka sector. The 47th Mechanized Brigade said that the Russians planned to storm the positions of their brigade. Before the assault, Russian infantry stretched out and moved along one of the roads.

The Russian invaders were probably heading from the village of Stepove in the direction of Ukrainian positions near the village of Berdychi. Ukrainian reconnaissance drones monitored the invaders' movements and then adjusted fire.

Initially, the Russians were hit with a high-explosive shell, but immediately the artillerymen began to fire cluster munitions.

The use of cluster munitions against Russian infantry in the Avdiivka sector. March 2024. Ukraine.

A frame from the video of the 47th Brigade

The shells hit the Russian infantry quite accurately as they tried to quickly leave the sector. The Ukrainian artillery is armed with US 155-mm M864 cluster shells.

72 bomblets of the M864 are placed in the projectile. These are 48 small M42 HEAT-Frag bomblets and 24 larger M46s.

M864 cluster shells of the Ukrainian military. July 2023. Ukraine.

Photo credits: Ukraine Weapons Tracker

During detonation, the elements of both types scatter debris within a radius of several meters, and can penetrate at least 60-65 mm of armor.

The Ukrainian General Staff said that the military repelled 21 attacks in the Avdiivka sector over the past day.

Unofficial map of hostilities in the Avdiivka sector as of early March 2024

Dmytro Lykhoviy, spokesman for the Tavria Operational and Strategic Group, stated that the Ukrainian Defense Forces are halting the further advancement of the Russian invaders in the region.

According to him, the situation is being stabilized in this hottest area of the Russian attack, despite the fact that the enemy partially controls Berdychi and Tonenke.