On 17 May, the Russian Ministry of Defence declared the so‑called “liberation” of the village of Bakhatyr in Donetsk region, despite the settlement remaining firmly under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In reality, Russian troops have not secured the area and continue to mount assaults on the village.
Military observers report that Moscow’s forces have changed their tactics. Instead of massed infantry attacks, they are now sending individual stormtroopers under cover of darkness. Each soldier moves alone, wearing special cloak‑style ponchos designed to obscure their shape and reduce the chance of detection by Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles. This shift reflects Moscow’s attempt to adapt to Ukraine’s air surveillance capabilities and to find new methods to breach frontline defences.
Ukrainian commanders have warned that these solo incursions pose a unique threat. Small groups or lone fighters can slip closer to defensive positions before being spotted, increasing the danger to outposts previously thought secure. Nevertheless, Kyiv’s forces maintain watchful vigilance, using night vision equipment, patrols and electronic monitoring to counter the new Russian method.
Despite the Kremlin’s public claims, Bakhatyr remains Ukrainian territory. Local residents and military officials stress that any announcement of its capture is propaganda aimed at home audiences.
