Russia claimed its reconnaissance UAV team of Ussuriysk paratroopers helped destroy several Ukrainian tanks hidden in a forest near the city of Bakhmut using explosive lance drones.

During combat duty, crews of the Far Eastern Separate Guards Airborne Division. Part of the Southern Group of Forces used the ‘Zala’ drones to conduct flights into tactical depths for reconnaissance. Target search, and subsequent fire adjustment of various types of weapons, according to the Russian Ministry of Defence.

While flying over the territory controlled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces near the village of Klishchiivka area, south of Bakhmut. The UAV operator detected two Ukrainian tanks firing from a forest plantation, the ministry claimed.

Once the targets were detected, their coordinates were transmitted to the command post, which decided to destroy them with “Lancet” barrage ammunition, it further claimed.

The reconnaissance UAV team adjusted the drones to the targets and recorded the alleged destruction of the two tanks.

Similarly, another Ukrainian Armed Forces tank was hit during nighttime, the ministry claimed. A thermal imager mounted on the ‘Zala’ UAV was used for guidance and recording of the tank’s destruction.