Russians Send Infantry-Filled Ural Truck into Assault Near Dobropillia

Russian forces launched an assault on the Huliaipole axis using a modified Ural convertible truck carrying infantry. The vehicle was destroyed by coordinated action from units of the 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade and the 122nd Separate Territorial Defense Brigade.

The press services of both brigades released video footage showing the destruction of the Russian assault group.

The modified truck was used to advance toward the settlement of Dobropillia in the Zaporizhzhia region.

For the assault, the truck’s standard cargo bed and doors were removed and replaced with a metal frame that infantry could hold onto. Electronic warfare systems designed to counter drones were also installed.

Thanks to electronic warfare systems, the assault group of about 10 Russian troops managed to get past drones that were trying to strike the truck on its approach and move closer to Ukrainian positions.

However, Ukrainian infantry—two soldiers from the 5th Battalion of the 122nd Territorial Defense Brigade—immediately opened small-arms fire and, with support from FPV drones, held off the Russian assault group until additional FPV drones, bomber drones, and artillery from the 110th Brigade joined the fight.

To destroy the enemy assault group, Ukrainian defenders did not hesitate to use scarce cluster munitions, which accurately struck a concentration of Russian infantry. As a result of the battle, Ukrainian forces eliminated the attackers and held their position.

According to the General Staff, on January 24, 2026, Russian forces attempted to assault Ukrainian Defense Forces positions 16 times on the Huliaipole axis in the areas of Huliaipole and Myrne, and toward Sviatopetrivka, Nove Zaporizhzhia, Dobropillia, Zelene, Varvarivka, and Zaliznychne.

This was not the first such assault attempt by Russian forces in this sector. In mid-December 2025, the Russian command had already sent a similarly modified Ural truck on what proved to be a suicidal assault on the same section of the front.

At that time, the advance was stopped by soldiers of Ukraine’s 33rd Separate Assault Regiment. They held off the Russians until Ukrainian artillery and drones finished off the assault group.

It is apparent that this type of modification—turning military trucks into disposable delivery vehicles for assault groups—is a standard practice, at least for the Russian unit operating in this sector of the front line.

The Russian command’s apparent determination to break through Ukrainian defenses at any cost is likely linked to Russia’s official announcement of the capture of the village of Dobropillia near Huliaipole back in early December 2025. However, from the OSINT-geolocated position that Russian forces attempted to assault on January 24, there are still 3–5 kilometers to the village itself.