Ukrainian strike on Belgorod dam cuts off Russian troops near Vovchansk
Photo: Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces (Getty Images)
Ukrainian forces struck the Belgorod dam. The attack caused the dam to start leaking water, leaving Russian troops near Vovchansk cut off from the main forces of their army, according to Robert "Madyar" Brovdi, Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces and the 16th Army Corps of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
"The Belgorod reservoir cracked today. Since the initial strike, the water level has dropped by 100 cm. The hit was carried out by the Birds of the 1st Separate Center of the Unmanned Systems Forces (transformed from the 14th USF Regiment)," Madyar wrote.
The 16th Army Corps also provided an update on the Vovchansk direction and explained how the dam breach worked against the Russians.
On October 26, Russian leader Vladimir Putin was reportedly told that Russian forces had occupied 70% of Vovchansk. Ukrainian troops clarified what actually happened:
"The enemy tried to fully exploit a window of opportunity. After a dry period and an extremely hot summer, the Siverskyi Donets and Vovcha rivers had dried up, simplifying logistics for the adversary. At the same time, reserves had been stockpiled, and there were still enough leaves on the trees. Altogether, this led to a sharp increase in activity in the Vovchansk direction," the statement said.
Ukrainian forces said the enemy achieved local successes, but at a high cost. Some units nearly lost all combat readiness.
"For example, the 1st Battalion of the 82nd Airborne Division was almost reduced to 'zero.' Only the command remained intact. It had to be withdrawn to the rear for replenishment," the military said.
However, the situation has now turned against the Russians. After the strike on the Belgorod dam, it began releasing water. Russian media reported that the water level in the reservoir fell by one meter, flowing into the Siverskyi Donets. Reports are already emerging of Russian dugouts being flooded.
"The main issue is that enemy logistics have been severely disrupted. The leaves have also fallen. Units that managed to cross the Siverskyi Donets are now effectively cut off from the main forces. We are waiting for replenishment of the exchange fund," the 16th Army Corps summarized.
Strike on the Belgorod dam
Earlier reports indicated that drones attacked the Belgorod dam during the night of October 26. The strike put four Russian units on the Vovchansk direction at risk of flooding.
The units reportedly at risk included elements of the 128th, 116th, 68th, and 136th Russian Armed Forces brigades.
On the night of October 25, Russian media claimed that Ukrainian troops had allegedly attacked the Belgorod reservoir dam with HIMARS rockets.
