Ukraine pilots use kamikaze drones as 30,000 Russian troops swarm eastern border

14 May 2024 , 22:11

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Drone pilot's of Ukraine's Achilles Battalion use kamikazes to disrupt Russia's advance (Image: Getty Images)

Ukrainian forces have sent out kamikaze drones as part of their desperate attempt to push back an army of 30,000 Russian troops. The FPV drones, which transmit live images to pilots through goggles, were part of the counter-attack as fierce fights broke out in the Kharkiv district.

Vladimir Putin has launched a shock offensive on the eastern border, near Ukraine’s second-largest city. Russia surrounded Vovchansk, a city on the outskirts of the region, before Ukraine’s military “pushed the enemy back”.

The Achilles Battalion of the 92nd Separate Mechanised Brigade used the kamikaze drones to repel Putin’s army. Russia claimed to have captured nine villages at the north-eastern front. The town of Buhruvatka was among “tactical successes”, the defence ministry said.

Fierce fighting has broken out east of Kharkiv (Getty Images)

Yesterday Oleksandr Lytvynenko, the secretary of Ukraine’s security council, said: “Russian actions in the border area are ongoing. We can say we don’t see any threat of assault on the city of Kharkiv.

"But there are a lot of Russians, quite a lot. About 50,000 were on the border.” He warned “more than 30,000” were involved in the current attack.

Putin accused of surrounding himself with same 'actors' at series of events

Ukraine says they are pushing the enemy back (Getty Images)

Kharkiv governor Oleh Synyehubov confirmed ground had been lost, saying: “The enemy is trying to deliberately stretch [the front line], attacking in small groups, but in new directions.”

Despite the ground invasion – believed to have involved 500 tanks – Russia is said to be suffering record losses with 1,740 reportedly killed on Sunday.

The war in Ukraine has seen the rapid rise of drones for combat (Getty Images)

It comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Kyiv to provide “strong reassurance” over military aid. The US approved a £48.5billion package last month, with President Zelensky describing the support as “vital”.

Defence Secretary Grant Schapps said the UK would not try to strong-arm Ukraine into accepting a peace deal. He said: “That’s a decision entirely for Ukraine... What I can confirm is that the UK will back Ukraine all the way.”

Dan Warburton