A Ukrainian armored vehicle tried to get through a Russian border control alone before coming under heavy fire.
The video appears to show the Kozak-2 vehicle heading at full speed towards the Kolotilovka checkpoint, which separates Ukraine from Belgorod region of Russia.
Russian military bloggers called it a “suicide mission” after the combat vehicle – clearly marked with Ukraine’s White Trianglea symbol of its invasion of Russia—was quickly hemmed in by a road barricade.
The footage shows the vehicle crashing near the center of the checkpoint and coming under fire. It was reportedly hit by a Russian FPV drone and a precision-guided Krasnopol shell.
It is unclear what happened to the seven soldiers who were seen climbing out of the vehicle before it was hit.
“Barely alive after such a blow, the paratrooper still managed to unload at the entrance to the checkpoint,” reported a Russian Telegram account, which claimed they were then “eliminated.”
Belgorod has been bombarded in recent days as Ukraine’s incursion, which began in the nearby Kursk regionentering its 10th day. The offensive has so far forced the evacuation of over 200,000 from the border zone.
A state of emergency was declared in Belgorod on Thursday, with officials citing a “complex and tense” situation.
Russia’s army said it was prepare “concrete measures”including the “assignment of additional forces”, to defend Belgorod from further Ukrainian attacks.
Kyiv claims to have seized over 1,150 square kilometers of Russian territory in Kursk. Moscow claims its forces have halted Ukraine’s advance, while admitting small groups continue to probe its border defenses.