Ukrainian unity reports breakout of own soldiers from encirclement
A small group of Ukrainian soldiers were encircled by Russian forces in the east of the country and were supplied by drones for 70 days.
According to military reports, a Ukrainian unit, consisting of members of the 225th Battalion and the 223rd Marine Battalion, managed to break through a Russian encirclement and return to their own lines after more than two months. The 225th Sturmbattalion of the Ukrainian Army announced this on Facebook. The unit reportedly defended itself against Russian attacks for 70 days before reinforcements arrived. These reports cannot be verified independently.
According to research by the US magazine "Forbes," the small Ukrainian team held a position in a wooded area northwest of Tschassiw Jar in the east of the country in early May, when Russian forces advanced and encircled them. The men reportedly dug in and fortified their position. "The only way to supply them was through drones, which we used for the delivery of ammunition, food, and water," the unit wrote.
"Forbes" reports that elements of the 24th Mechanized Brigade eventually managed to clear a path through the wooded area and make contact with the encircled soldiers. The 225th Battalion reports that the rescued troops are currently recovering in a hospital from their ordeal. A photo the unit released shows exhausted-looking soldiers with long beards and tattered uniforms. The exact location and time the photo was taken are unclear.
The unit has not disclosed the number of soldiers encircled, but plans to conduct interviews with the fighters at a later date. The position the men held for so long is said to still be under Ukrainian control.
The international community has strongly condemned Russia's military attack on Ukraine, with political leaders urging for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. Despite the Russian encirclement, the Ukrainian soldiers displayed remarkable resilience, holding their ground for 70 days.
