A lone Ukrainian shooter expertly took out Russian soldiers who had surrounded his fox hole in a close-range shootout, dramatic video shows.
Four enemy marksmen were positioned just metres from where the soldier was sheltering, outnumbering and outgunning him.
Astonishingly, the Ukrainian defender was able to eliminate two of them with limited firepower, while also holding off the other two.
Backup then arrives for the soldier, who is said to be a fighter with the 5th Slobozhan Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine (NSU), and the team kill the two remaining Russian soldiers.
The ambush took place near the village of Klishchiivka in the Donetsk region, which Ukraine recaptured from Vladimir Putin‘s forces in September and has seen heavy fighting in recent months.
Four enemy marksmen were positioned just metres from where the soldier was sheltering, outnumbering and outgunning him
After eliminating two targets, the Ukrainian soldier turns his gun on two other Russian soldiers, who are seen lying slightly further away
Two Russians are seen crouching on the edge of the trench, preparing to fire on it, when the Ukrainian soldier suddenly leaps out and blasts them.
When he has neutralised the two targets, he then turns his gun on the other marksmen lying slightly further away.
The pair are seen hiding behind thicket as they try to return fire, but ultimately are picked off by the Ukrainian fighter and his comrades when they arrive to help.
The footage was obtained from the NSU, along with a statement saying: ‘War is about the strength of spirit and lust for life: a fighter of the 5th Slobozhan Brigade of the NSU single-handedly held a position against four Russians in the Klishchiivka area.
‘He eliminated two enemies on his own and held out until help arrived from a nearby position and finished off two more.
Paying tribute to the soldier, they described him as ‘a real fighter’. He and his battalion are responsible for defending the area, which is on the Bakhmut front of the war.
‘Russian occupying troops are constantly trying to storm the positions of the Defense Forces of Ukraine near Klishchiivka, using assault groups,’ the NSU said yesterday.
Ukrainian soldiers unload grad shells in a garage in the direction of Marinka, as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine last week
Mass civilian evacuations of border towns in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv region are underway amid heavy Russian shelling and troop movements. A destroyed house is pictured following shelling on May 12, 2024 in Vovchansk
Paramedics treat a wounded Ukrainian service member, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, near the town of Vovchansk in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, yesterday
A recent attempt by Russian forces to storm Ukrainian positions was met with mortar and artillery fire, causing casualties and forcing them to retreat.
‘After the first rollback and losses, the enemy retreated to regroup. The second group, after making another attempt to break through, was suppressed by fire means and forced to leave’, said Jin, a soldier who fought to repel the assault.
The NSU added that soldiers in the area ‘have been restraining Russian aggression for more than six months and have been repelling enemy attacks with overwhelming force every day.’
Around 280km to the north of Klishchiivka is the frontline in the Kharkiv region, which has seen some of the most bitter fighting in recent days.
Moscow has been pushing on with a new offensive in the northeastern region since Friday, taking villages and bearing down on the city of Vovchansk.
Thousands of Ukrainians have been forced to flee, with armed forces commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrskyi admitting on Sunday that the situation in the Kharkiv region has ‘significantly worsened’ in recent days.
The head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency said today that the situation was moving towards stabilisation, but admitted that Russia may send in more reserves in the coming days.
Russia’s military had also stationed small assault units near Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, GUR agency chief Kyrylo Budanov told Ukrainian TV.
