Russia’s army suffered a significant military setback in its attempts to seize the city of Vovchansk.
Located 73km north of Kharkiv, the city has been at the centre of intense battles since Russian forces launched a surprise attack across the border in early May.
After making initial gains, the Russians have become bogged down in the city in the face of fierce Ukrainian resistance.
Several Ukrainian units including the elite 82nd Air Assault Brigade have stemmed the Russian tide and are now retaking territory from their bitter enemies.
In an attempt to regain the initiative, Putin’s army tried to storm the PJSC Volchansky chemical plant on the right bank of the Vovcha River.
However, Ukrainian forces launched their own attack west of the chemical plant and advanced several blocks to the north.
As a result they succeeded in cutting off 400 Russian soldiers from their units, according to Forbes journalist David Axe.
Thirty Russians then surrendered after repeated attempts to rescue the troops failed.
A Ukrainian drone operator said: “The Russians are surrounded here with zero chances of evacuation or reinforcements.
Using a slang term for Russian soldiers, he added: “A bunch of dead and wounded orcs.”
The Russian troops are still holed up in the factory awaiting rescue and are coming under continual fire.
Videos circulating on social media channels show Ukrainian troops firing Stugna-P anti-tank missiles at the building.
A recent video shot by a drone shows the scale of destruction in the city that used to be home to 17,000 people.
The drone footage captures the scene in Vovchansk from sunrise on May 28 through to the following morning.
In one scene shot early morning, thick smoke obscures the sky over a residential complex where fires burn from multiple blocks.
Around the apartment blocks, houses and buildings lie in ruins, roofs missing, blackened facades pockmarked with damage.
The drone captures the moment a shell hits a building and debris flies into the air. The drone view pulls out wider to capture another impact.
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