Ukrainian soldiers successfully repelled a bizarre and desperate assault launched by Russian forces, which combined tanks with high speed motorcycles in a coordinated attack in the Toretsk sector of eastern Ukraine. According to Ukraine’s 28th Separate Mechanised Brigade, the Russian command attempted to surprise the defenders by attacking from multiple flanks using a mix of armour and agile two-wheeled vehicles. However, their efforts ended in failure.
The attack was aimed at breaking Ukrainian defensive lines in Toretsk, a strategically important city that helps maintain fire control over Russian positions and secures vital routes protecting the Kramatorsk and Konstantinivka region. The Russian assault began with simultaneous movements from both tanks and motorcycles, possibly in an effort to confuse Ukrainian forces and bypass traditional defence patterns.
Ukrainian defenders responded with precision. Drones from the 28th Brigade, Spalakh airborne unit, Kurt and Company, and the 3rd Mechanised Battalion, along with the 93rd Kholodny Yar Brigade, delivered a crushing counterattack. The motorcycles and armoured vehicles were quickly identified and destroyed by drone strikes before being finished off by infantry units.
Images shared by the Ukrainian military showed multiple destroyed Russian vehicles, including tanks, scattered across the battlefield. The Ukrainian General Staff confirmed that this attack took place near the settlement of Dachne.
Despite the fall of Avdiivka and Russian advances to the north near Chasiv Yar and to the south in Ocheretyne, the defence of Toretsk remains firm. However, Russian forces continue to pose a threat, particularly along the Pokrovsk to Kostiantynivka highway, a key logistical artery for Ukrainian operations.
Due to heavy losses in armoured equipment, Russian forces are increasingly resorting to cheaper, unconventional vehicles. Some have even been equipped with anti drone protection, though these measures have not prevented Ukrainian forces from inflicting further significant damage. The attack, while unusual in its approach, highlights the increasing desperation of the Russian military in its attempts to gain ground in Donetsk Oblast.
