Ukraine’s ‘Zombie Cars’ Strike Russian Positions

Ukraine’s Third Army Corps has reported using Soviet-era BTR-60 armored personnel carriers converted into unmanned “kamikaze” ground vehicles during the latest phase of Operation Vivaldi in the northern Donetsk region. According to the Ukrainian military, the remotely operated vehicles were used to breach heavily fortified Russian positions, after which Ukrainian assault forces advanced into the area. The corps said more than 250 Russian soldiers were taken prisoner during the operation.

The Third Army Corps, commanded by Brigadier General Andrii Biletskyi, said the latest phase resulted in the liberation of Nove, Ridkodub and Katerynivka, while control was restored over Karpivka and Novomykhailivka. Ukrainian forces said they reclaimed another 51 square kilometres during the latest phase, taking the total area regained under Operation Vivaldi to 176 square kilometres, or about 68 square miles. The corps also claimed around 2,000 Russian personnel were lost during the latest phase, although those casualty figures could not be independently verified.