Ukraine seizes key hub near Donetsk's fortress belt, takes 250 Russian POWs using robotic BTR-60s

Ukraine's armed forces have reported a significant advance near Donetsk's fortress belt, one of the most heavily defended sections of the front. According to the operation's commander, the 3rd Army Corps captured the settlement of Nove, described as a key hub in the area.

The commander said Russian forces had exhausted much of their reserves on a diversionary, or "feint," attack elsewhere along the front, which allowed Ukrainian troops to press their assault on Nove with less resistance than expected.

The operation made use of Soviet-era BTR-60 armored personnel carriers that had been converted into unmanned "kamikaze" robotic vehicles. Ukraine has increasingly relied on repurposed, low-cost robotic systems to offset shortages of manpower and armor against Russia's numerically larger forces.

As a result of the fighting, around 250 Russian soldiers were taken prisoner, according to the report.

The commander referred to the broader effort as operation "Vivaldi," saying the capture of Nove marked the conclusion of its third and decisive phase. Donetsk's fortress belt — a heavily fortified network of settlements — has long been one of the most difficult sectors for Russian forces to break through, giving Ukrainian gains there both tactical and symbolic weight.

Further details on the exact location of the diversionary attack and the scale of losses on either side were not disclosed.