Russian forces used captured M113 armored personnel carriers in an assault against Ukrainian positions in the Hryshyne area on the Pokrovsk front in eastern Ukraine.
The action took place under heavy fog, allowing the vehicles to approach almost undetected initially. Two M113s and one infantry fighting vehicle crossed the contact line and advanced toward the village before being identified.
The response came from drone operators of the “Panama” unit, part of Ukraine’s 1st Independent Territorial Defense Brigade. The troops managed to destroy one of the M113s with unmanned aerial attacks, while the second vehicle was able to withdraw from the area. The infantry fighting vehicle accompanying the column was also hit during the clash.
In addition to the damage to the armored vehicles, Ukrainian drones targeted Russian soldiers who had disembarked during the offensive. According to reports, five Russian servicemen were killed in these attacks, carried out both during and after the direct engagement.
The incident highlights how vehicles supplied by Western allies to Ukraine, when not recovered after battlefield damage, can end up being reused by Russian forces. Data from the Oryx group indicate that more than 500 M113s have been lost since the start of the conflict, including destroyed, damaged, abandoned, or captured vehicles—a reflection of the intensity of the fighting and the massive use of drones by both sides.
Source: Defence Blog | Photo: X @front_ukrainian | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
❗️🇺🇦Ukrainian troops from the 1st Separate Territorial Defense Brigade are repelling 🇷🇺Russian assaults in the Pokrovsk direction. For the attack, the Russians used 2 captured M113s, a BMP, and small infantry groups. pic.twitter.com/3LPbiIKsUH
— 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@front_ukrainian) February 3, 2026
