Putin’s marooned troops tried to flee by boat – and were blown apart
Credit: 40th Coastal Defense Brigade of the Ukrainian Marine Corps
In a desperate bid for freedom, a group of Russian soldiers board a small boat and sail away from a marshy islet in the area. Dnipro delta.
Clad in makeshift camouflage made of reeds and mud, they lie deep in the water, hoping the narrow channels will conceal their escape. Russian occupied territory.
But above, Ukrainian troops watch their every move.
Soon the buzz of a suicide drone cuts through the fog. He climbs onto the boat. And then it explodes.
Credit: 40th Coastal Defense Brigade of the Ukrainian Marine Corps
This fleeting, brutal encounter reflects the reality of life and death on the Dnipro river, where hundreds of Russian soldiers are said to be stranded and starving to death. Chain of islands south of Kherson.
“The region is a killing zone for Russia,” Colonel Oleksandr Zavtonov of Ukraine’s 30th Marine Corps told The Telegraph. “There’s nowhere to hide.”
The islands lie in the sprawling Dnipro delta, a maze of reed-covered marshes and narrow waterways that form a natural buffer south of Kherson.
The river has become a de facto frontline since Ukrainian forces liberated the southern city in November 2022.
Its right bank is held by Ukraine, while its low-lying, flood-prone left bank is occupied by Russian troops.
Constant drone overflights, artillery engagements and night raids have turned the region into one of the war’s most dangerous battlefields, where advances are measured in meters and survival often depends on stealth and timing.
Ukrainian intelligence cites reports that 5,100 Russians have died in the delta since January this year, with soldiers starving to death due to lack of supplies.
Colonel Zavtonov said, “The prisoners that our fighters had recently taken to the islands were talking about the fact that they could not receive food and drinking water and that they had to drink water from the river.”
Footage from the Dnipro delta shows a haunting scene of small dinghies and makeshift boats scrambling for freedom through densely swampy areas, with soldiers hiding themselves in vegetation as they tried to escape.
In most cases, they are eliminated by constantly monitoring Ukrainian drones.
Credit: 40th Coastal Defense Brigade of the Ukrainian Marine Corps
“The enemy’s advance is carried out by small groups trying to camouflage themselves, a tactic not seen at the beginning of the war,” said Oksana Kuzan, head of the analytical department at the Ukrainian Center for Security and Cooperation.
“Russian military units remaining on the islands in the Dnipro delta face serious problems with food, ammunition and rotation.”
At the tactical level, islands offer small teams the opportunity to gather intelligence or establish radio networks that increase the operational range of the drone.
Drone flights, artillery skirmishes and night raids have turned the region into one of the war’s most dangerous battlefields – Mstyslav Chernov/AP
Compact, well-hidden units can use the islands for reconnaissance missions or forward observation points.
Controlling water gives soldiers influence over river crossings, small boat movements, and potential enemy supply routes.
But the islands are low-lying and surrounded by open water, making it easy for troops to be visible and targeted from the air or from across the river.
“This is a large area of water; there is nowhere to hide on the islands and the terrain is mostly swampy and units passing through them will be very vulnerable,” said Colonel Zavtonov.
The islands are low-lying and surrounded by open sea, making troops visible and easy to target.
There are reports that Russian soldiers had to buy engines and boats out of their own pockets to advance.
John Hardie, deputy director of the Russia program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told The Telegraph that these conditions make resupply and troop rotations in the region an extremely difficult challenge for Russia.
“In general, at this stage of the war, moving to and from positions is among the most dangerous things you can do, so rotations are rare,” he said.
Controlling water gives soldiers influence over river crossings, small boat movements and potential enemy supply routes – Mstyslav Chernov/AP
It is known that some units of the 98th Airborne Division, redeployed from the direction of Kramatorsk, are operating on the islands.
Russian sailors from the 61st Separate Brigade were also reported to have landed on the islands in April and were deliberately kept in their positions for several months.
According to intelligence, the Russians tried to land their troops on the islands of Kruhluy, Malyi, Bilogrudyi and Oleksiyivskyi on a rotational basis on October 15, organizing logistical support and establishing observation points.
However, this attempt ended in disaster.
“Ukrainian defenders retain the positions they occupied; no losses or advances were allowed,” Colonel Zavtonov said.
He noted that reconnaissance missions were conducted by Ukraine “24 hours a day”.
Ms. Kuzan reported that in September, soldiers from the 2nd Battalion of the 40th Separate Coast Defense Brigade of the Ukrainian Navy successfully destroyed Russian groups that tried to land on the shores of the Kherson region using marine vessels.
Ukrainian troops carry out regular reconnaissance missions along the Dnipro river and its banks – Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty Images
The Russians had pinned their hopes on stormy weather—rain, dense fog, and high winds that blinded drones on both sides—to break through Ukrainian lines.
“The enemy is trying to move in small groups of infantry, relying on the effect of surprise. This is facilitated by rain, fog and strong wind, which complicate the operation of drones on both sides,” explained Colonel Zavtonov. “But we’re always watching.”
As winter approaches, Ukrainian officials warn that the front could become even deadlier.
Ukrainian Navy Commander Dmytro Pletenchuk told The Telegraph that the Russians were constantly trying to take control of the islands “regardless of the losses of their troops”.
“The islands are important, like other parts of Ukraine. If you allow the Russians to take over an area, they will definitely advance,” he said. “But the Russians clinging to the islands cannot survive for long.”
