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On Aug. 3, Russian forces launched a shock offensive within the east. They pushed about six miles into Ukrainian strains towards Dobropillia, a small war-torn village beforehand greatest identified for its wealthy coal deposits. Although preventing there may be ongoing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the moment known as the battle for Dobropillia successful.
“We imagine this operation has disrupted Russia’s summer season offensive marketing campaign,” he instructed reporters.
As soon as Ukraine’s navy leaders realized the depth of the Russian breakthrough, the deepest in additional than a 12 months, they rushed among the nation’s greatest items to cease it. A type of was the First Corps Azov of the Nationwide Guard of Ukraine, which was chargeable for one sector in that counterattack.
In an hour-long unique dialog with TWZ on Thursday, Lt. Col. Arsen “Lemko” Dmytryk, the unit’s chief of workers, gave us a breakdown of how Ukraine was capable of flip the tide. He additionally talked in regards to the challenges forward, given the fluid nature of the battlefield. That is half certainly one of a two-part interview.
Some questions and solutions have been calmly edited for readability.
Lt. Col. Arsen Dmytryk, Chief of Employees of the First Azov Corps, gave an unique hour-long interview to The Battle Zone. (Picture by Oleksii Samsonov/World Photos Ukraine through Getty Photos) samsonov
Q: After a 12 months of largely static entrance strains, how was Russia capable of break via towards Dobropillia?
A: In August of this 12 months, it was one of many hottest factors of the entire entrance line. The enemy broke our first protection line and entered the tactical positions of our military. The enemy used the forces of the 51st Military of the Russian Federation. Navy infantry and the eighth Russian Military joined the 51st Russian Military to assist them with that assault mission. There have been roughly 100,000 personnel from the Russian Military.
Q: The lack of Dobropillia would have had cascading results throughout the frontlines. How did you defend towards it?
A: Initially, our reconnaissance labored rather well. Due to our reconnaissance, we obtained the enemy’s plans for the assault. Additionally, a number of Ukrainian forces mixed collectively to stabilize this entrance. There have been greater than 100 commanders from our aspect. At the start of August, we constructed a joint command level. All of the items that took half on this operation to cease the enemy assault joined that command level.
Q: So this was a command and management location the place orders can be given out to numerous items working collectively as a joint pressure?
A: Sure.
Reviews from many Ukrainian sources of a probably catastrophic Russian breakthrough towards Dobropilla in Donetsk area, with advance Russian troops reducing off the Dobropilla-Kramatorsk street. Until stopped quickly this has the potential to have very critical penalties. pic.twitter.com/EydRGyFpjZ
— Yaroslav Trofimov (@yarotrof) August 11, 2025
Q: What number of items had been collaborating?
A: Greater than 10 totally different items. There have been totally different commanders of various navy ranges who got here to the command level.
Q: Who was in cost?
A: We applied the corps system, and the corps are chargeable for a selected zone. However to assist us, the commander of assault forces joined our command level. Unmanned Aerial Forces additionally joined. The Commander in Chief, Mr. Syrskyi, is formally the primary man who’s above all. This command middle was constructed on an Azov base. Nevertheless, totally different commanders introduced their very own distinctive data. You can not say that this one introduced us the primary success. It’s a typical success.
Q: You stated reconnaissance performed an enormous function in defending towards the Russian incursion towards Dobropillia. Are you able to elaborate on what variety? Was it people? Drones? Another methodology?
A: I can’t reply immediately. It was a posh of various strategies.
Google Earth
Q: What tactical modifications helped?
A: We began utilizing small teams to counterattack the enemy from totally different flanks.
Q: What number of troops had been in these teams and what weapons and assist have they got?
A: Sorry, this operation shouldn’t be completed, so we can’t touch upon it, however there are some sectors on the entrance line the place the enemy has utterly surrendered. However it’s not rather a lot, it is sort of a few dozen individuals.
Q: Every other main modifications in battlefield ways by both aspect?
A: Look, quickly there might be no leaves on the timber. They might all have fallen and with out leaves, it’s nearly not possible to make use of these small teams of enemies on foot as a result of we are going to merely see them. However the enemy retains studying. Each time the enemy makes use of new ways.
Q: Discuss Russian armor. How are the Russians massing it?
A: We don’t see that the enemy is utilizing tanks actually typically. As an alternative, they’re utilizing armored autos and small teams of assault troops who go simply by foot or bike. The enemy makes use of tanks and armored autos with a purpose to make a gap in Ukrainian protection strains. After they make this gap, they throw infantry on common autos or bikes. So their tactic is that first they advance with a tank and this can be a particular tank. It has radio digital warfare and a few particular anti-mine gear.
A Russian ‘turtle tank’ seen with a mine curler hooked up. (Through X) Unknown creator
After the tank, they’ve armored autos for soldiers. Normally, earlier than the tank, they’ll ship a number of bikes to clear the street of mines. We name this a tank fist. So when this tank fist makes a gap within the Ukrainian defenses, Russian infantry use both bikes or mild autos like buggies. These days, that is the enemy’s most typical assault tactic. However we should always say the enemy makes use of the meat grinder nonetheless. Each single day, the Russian military loses lots of of individuals by sending them both on foot or on bikes. That is the meat grinder.
Q: What number of tanks have they got? Are they massing loads of tanks for these assaults?
A: They function in columns, and a column consists of 5 or 6 totally different autos. Just one car, the primary one out of those 5, is a tank.
Q: However what number of tanks are the Russians massing for his or her assaults in Donetsk?
A: Every corps has its personal zone of accountability, and it’s exhausting to reply your query in regards to the variety of tanks, as a result of we see the tank approaching our zone of accountability from different zones of accountability. So we can’t inform you the quantity, as a result of we are able to solely see our accountability zone.
Q: Are these assaults being supported by drones, artillery or aviation property?
A: Largely it’s artillery assist after which the drone assist. They nearly don’t use aviation.
Q: Why not?
A: The enemy tried to go on assault missions throughout dangerous climate, like wet climate, and you may’t use planes throughout rain. Why does the enemy select this method? In order that our Ukrainian drones received’t assault them due to the rain.
Q: It’s not wet season but. Is there loads of rain now?
A: It’s not prefer it’s a season of rain now; it’s extra just like the enemy is searching for wet days to make use of for an assault mission. When there may be rain, there are not any drones within the sky. For both aspect.
Q: How do you defend towards the Russian assaults?
A: We’ve constructed totally different obstacles. Bodily obstacles assist defend us, and it’s the work of our engineering assist forces, who’re constructing trenches and so forth. We use distant mining applied sciences. We use several types of UAVs. It’s FPV drones and greater drones with wings. And from our aspect, we all the time have two to a few tanks which are all the time prepared to start out preventing.
Q: Do you utilize your tanks in defensive positions, or do you go on offense with them?
A: Largely defensive.
Within the battle for Dobropillia, Azov has used its tanks principally in protection. (Azov)
Q: Zelensky stated the counteroffensive to cease the Russian advance to Dobropillia derailed Russia’s summer season offensive marketing campaign. What’s your evaluation of that out of your battlefield perspective?
A: Sure, the enemy is stopped. However to be extra appropriate, no, it’s not completed. The right reply is the next Russian operation on that a part of the entrance shouldn’t be profitable. As we speak with you, the preventing remains to be happening.
Q: Do you suppose that the Russians can mount a significant offensive, both in direction of Dobropillia or elsewhere within the Donetsk area?
A: So the enemy has the flexibility to make new counteroffensives, nevertheless it wouldn’t be because it was at first of August.
Q: Why?
A: Solely that from August 3, 5,000 Russian troopers had been killed. We don’t depend wounded now. In order that’s the reply to your query. We eradicated lots of of their autos and totally different gear, they usually have hundreds of wounded troopers on their aspect.
Q: What number of troops have you ever captured?
A: We’ve about 80 in captivity.
Russian Prisoners from the Dobropillia Sector
The video exhibits Russian troopers captured within the space of accountability of the First Corps Azov of the Nationwide Guard of Ukraine.
Chasing after “success,” the Russian command threw its troops into an assault on one of many hottest… pic.twitter.com/7GVXlDz2lp
— First Corps Azov of the Nationwide Guard of Ukraine (@azov_media) September 9, 2025
Q: What number of casualties has Azov suffered on this battle and the way a lot gear have you ever misplaced?
A: We can’t present such knowledge.
Q: In his press convention at the moment, Zelensky talked about that after the Russian push towards Dobropillia was stopped, they’re now redoubling their efforts to take Pokrovsk, about 12 miles to the south. Inform me about what’s going down in Pokrovsk, the place you had been earlier than the present operations.
A: The enemy’s primary focus is on pushing in direction of the Dobropillia and Pokrovsk sectors. So the purpose for the enemy is to enter the town of Pokrovsk. In latest months, the enemy can do that. The enemy tried to get inside the town through the use of small assault teams on foot. They don’t use autos. However our items, which stand in protection of Pokrovsk and Myrnograd [a few miles to the east], they actually kill plenty of the enemy.
Within the second a part of our interview, Dmytryk dives deeper into the evolving drone struggle on the frontlines.
Contact the creator: howard@thewarzone.com
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