December 20, 2025
Ukrainian Unmanned Systems Forces have thwarted another russian assault attempt on the Donetsk axis by destroying key armored assets, including tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and a rare MTU-20 tank bridgelayer, depriving enemy infantry of cover and stopping further offensive actions
On the Donetsk axis, operators of the 427th Separate Regiment of Unmanned Systems Rarog of the Armed Forces of Ukraine halted russian assault operations by striking tanks, armored vehicles, and an MTU-20 tank bridgelayer. The vehicle was intended to support the advance of russian armored units toward Ukrainian Defense Forces positions. Its destruction left enemy infantry assault groups without armored cover, making further offensive actions impossible.
Footage of the combat operation was released on 20 December.
The MTU-20 is a Soviet-era tank bridgelayer developed on the chassis of the T-55 medium tank. It is designed for the rapid deployment of a single-span metal bridge with a load capacity of up to 50 tons across obstacles up to 18 meters wide. The bridge can be deployed by the crew without leaving the vehicle.
“The systematic work of the 427th Separate Regiment Rarog reduces the enemy’s offensive potential and provides the Defense Forces with a tactical advantage in designated sectors of the front,” the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stated.
Earlier, Defense Express reported that the Defense Forces of Ukraine successfully struck a russian Project 22460 Okhotnik-class border patrol vessel while it was patrolling the Caspian Sea near an offshore platform.
According to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, several Ukrainian drones hit the vessel. The extent of the damage and the ship’s hull number are currently being clarified.
Ukrainian forces also struck the Filanovsky oil platform in the Caspian Sea, a facility owned by the Lukoil oil company.