Ukrainian Marines storm Zelenyi Shlyakh

22 October, 2024 T-64BV tanks, model year 2022, in service with the Marines, summer 2024. Photo: 36th Separate Mechanized Brigade The Marines of the 36th Brigade, together with the Territorial Defense Forces and fighters of the 47th Mechanized Brigade, have almost completely forced out the Russian forces from the seized villages of Zelenyi Shlyakh and Novoivanivka in the Kursk region.

The Ukrainian Naval Infantry Command press service released the video footage of the battle. A convoy of armored vehicles from the 36th Separate Marine Brigade led by T-64BV tanks advanced 2 kilometers along the Rylsk-Korenevo-Sudzha highway. The military met resistance twice during their advance, breaking through positions in the forest planting and entering the village of Zelenyi Shlyakh itself.

The Marines' offensive was supported by reconnaissance drones and artillery using cluster munitions. Already near the village, the Marines fought off a mechanized counterattack from several armored vehicles with the help of tanks and attack drones.

The WarArchive project geolocated the battlefields, including the location of destroyed occupant positions in the landings (here) and broken Russian equipment (here).

Fighting for Zelenyi Shlyakh and Novoivanovka, October 2024. Image: DeepState map

It is not yet clear whether the Defense Forces' forward units have managed to gain a foothold in Zelenyi Shlyakh. However, if successful, this will create the preconditions for the Russian forces' complete dislodgement from nearby Novoivanovka.

As a reminder, these villages were lost as a result of a breakthrough by Russian troops on the left flank of the Ukrainian Defense Forces in the Kursk region on October 10. Since then, Ukrainian troops have conducted a series of successful ambushes, destroying several enemy armored convoys that were moving toward the settlements to consolidate and build on their success. The new attack by the 36th Marine Brigade demonstrates that the Ukrainian forces in this area have shifted from trying to stop the enemy to full-fledged counterattacks and regaining ground.

Soldiers of the 103rd Mechanized Brigade and 47th Magura Separate Mechanized Brigade units were also spotted in the battles for Novoivanovka, using M2 Bradley fighting vehicles and M1A1SA Abrams tanks.

In the video, armored vehicles of the 47th Mechanized Brigade are seen clearing buildings on the western outskirts of the settlement, reconnecting with the Marines of the 36th Brigade.