Marines repel encirclement attempt in the Donetsk region

10 December, 2024 Mastiff armored vehicle in service with the 505th Marine Battalion. Illustrative photo. Marines of the 37th Brigade repelled a Russian assault and held the last settlement separating Ukrainian troops from encirclement in the Kurakhiv sector.

The Ukrainian Navy press service released footage of the battle. On December 8, Russian troops attempted to launch a rapid mechanized offensive with an armored column against the positions of Ukrainian marines in the village of Konstantynopolske in the Kurakhove sector. The infantry assault group disembarked from vehicles a few kilometers before the settlement and moved in its direction with the support of vehicles.

Some of the vehicles exploded on mines or were attacked by FPV drones 1.5 kilometers from the settlement, but the Russians still managed to cross the open space and occupy the outer buildings on the outskirts of the village. To knock out the invaders and prevent them from gaining a foothold before the next battle group arrived, the Marines counterattacked the enemy infantry with the support of Mastiff armored vehicles. The Marines of the 505th Separate Battalion of the 37th Separate Mechanized Brigade managed to successfully clear the remnants of the Russian assault group, driving the invaders out of the village. This is an important success as it plays a critical role for other units of the Defense Forces.

Konstantynopolske remains the only settlement separating Ukrainian forces in Hannivka from complete encirclement. According to DeepState's map, the relevant "corridor" has narrowed to just two kilometers, and it is being shelled by the Russian forces from both sides.

Battle for the village of Konstantynopolske, December 8, 2024.

Map: Google Earth and DeepState

A week prior, the 37th Brigade's mobile reserve in Oshkosh M-ATV armored vehicles broke into the recently occupied positions of the invaders two kilometers west of the scene. After a long battle, the marines managed to drive the enemy out and take their positions, thus driving the enemy out and strengthening their right flank. Meanwhile, the Russian invaders continue to put pressure on Kurakhove itself, using massive mechanized frontal attacks from several directions.

On November 12, they managed to push through the defense and, for the first time, entered the city's buildings with vehicles.