Azov International Battalion captures 18 Russian soldiers in Dobropillia direction
Photo: Azov fighters cleared the village of Zolotyi Kolodiaz in the Dobropillia direction (Getty Images)
Fighters of the Azov International Battalion carried out a successful operation to clear the village of Zolotyi Kolodiaz in the Dobropillia direction. In a single day, the defenders captured 18 Russian servicemen, according to the 12th Azov Special Purpose Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine.
According to the military, the Russian soldiers, abandoned by their command, had been hiding in basements and burrows across the village for several months. To finally eliminate enemy resistance, the International Battalion fighters were deployed for the clearing operation.
During the operation, foreign volunteers encountered the effects of Russian propaganda among the captives.
"They really believe these stories. When we entered, some of them were convinced they were facing NATO special forces. They had information that Germans were in the village," a fighter of the International Battalion said.
The captured Russian soldiers themselves confirmed they had been isolated for a long time without proper support.
"We were just sitting in the basements; they left us. When the Azov fighters arrived, we realized there was no point in resisting," said one of the detained soldiers.
Photo: DeepState map
Dobropillia direction
The Dobropillia direction remains one of the key defensive areas in eastern Ukraine. Since August 2025, the 1st Corps of the Azov National Guard has held this sector, preventing the enemy from advancing.
Just before the New Year, Russian troops attempted to assault this area, but the National Guard fighters thwarted their plans. The enemy tried to reach the front-line positions of the Ukrainian Defense Forces under the 1st Corps’ responsibility, but failed.
Earlier, Russian sources spread false claims about capturing Dobropillia near Huliaipole in the Zaporizhzhia region. The General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces denied this, confirming that the town remains under Ukrainian control.
The enemy repeatedly tried to break through and advance toward Dobropillia but suffered losses and retreated each time. Border guards and the National Guard repelled an attack by around 20 Russian soldiers moving on nine ATVs.
On the morning of December 22, four enemy columns were detected moving toward Dobropillia within the 1st Corps’ responsibility zone, but the assault was successfully repelled.
