Frontline report: Edelweiss Brigade ambush decimates 75% of Russian assault near strategic Siversk hub

Today brings significant news from the Siversk direction.

The Ukrainian Edelweiss Brigade demonstrated exceptional tactical precision in a brilliantly structured defensive operation that effectively counters even large-scale Russian mechanized assaults. Their coordinated defense not only crushed the attacking force but established a new standard for modern defensive fortification design and implementation.

The Russians aim to capture Siversk, a crucial Ukrainian logistics hub that serves as a strategic barrier protecting Lyman and Sloviansk.

The city’s natural defenses include the Serebryanskyi Forest to the northeast, which has proven vital in repelling Russian assaults. Several hill ridges to the southeast provide additional protection, with one near Ivano-Darivka serving as a key Ukrainian stronghold.

While the village sits in a lowland, the surrounding elevated terrain, combined with a small river and large water reservoir, creates a formidable defensive barrier. This section of the frontline is defended by the battle-tested Ukrainian 10th Mountain Assault Brigade “Edelweiss.”

The Russians executed a multi-stage attack to increase their breakthrough chances. They began with precision Iskander ballistic missile strikes on suspected Ukrainian positions near Sloviansk. Following this, they intensified their bombardment of the hill ridge above Ivano-Darivka, employing thermobaric artillery systems for maximum impact.

After completing the artillery preparation, Russian forces launched a large-scale assault with 22 armored vehicles (7 tanks, 13 BMPs, and 2 MT-LBs), supported by approximately 120 soldiers. Controlling the opposing hill ridge and using Berestove village as a staging ground, they planned to advance rapidly from Berestove toward Ivano-Darivka, aiming to seize the strategic hilltop stronghold from the southeast. They avoided the fields due to extensive mining.

Despite hours of intense shelling, Ukrainian defenders were well-prepared. They detected the Russian column early but strategically delayed engagement until the column drove perpendicular to their stronghold, exposing the entire assault group. Once all Russian forces were in direct view, Ukrainians disabled the leading vehicle with kamikaze drones. As Russian soldiers evacuated the disabled infantry fighting vehicle, Ukrainian forces deployed additional drones to drop grenades, effectively neutralizing them.

While other Russian vehicles attempted to advance closer to the Ukrainian stronghold, Ukrainian anti-tank guided missile operators, strategically positioned on high ground, employed domestically produced Stugna-P systems against the advancing armor. Geolocated images show multiple Ukrainian ATGM crews engaging Russian vehicles from the left flank, destroying them systematically while surviving Russian troops fled in panic.

After halting the Russian column approximately one kilometer from Ivano-Darivka, Ukrainian forces continued targeting remaining vehicles with FPV drones, preventing any Russians from reaching the village or establishing a foothold. According to geolocated footage from the 10th Ukrainian Brigade, they suffered no casualties while destroying 6 of 7 Russian tanks, 9 of 13 BMPs, and killing or wounding half of the assault force.

The Ukrainian fighters have created an exemplary defense structure in this region, exploiting high ground advantages and forcing Russian assault units to expose their flanks during attacks. Their confidence in their defensive configuration and tactical patience enabled maximum damage, destroying 75% of the enemy’s armor and eliminating 50% of their manpower within minutes. This operation sets a new standard for defensive operations and serves as a model for other Ukrainian brigades.

In our regular frontline report, we pair up with the military blogger Reporting from Ukraine to keep you informed about what is happening on the battlefield in the Russo-Ukrainian war.