Russian troops advancing toward Svetloye near Dobropolye used Ukrainian anti-tank ditches as sheltered routes and defensive cover, according to an officer with the call sign Pole, head of the operational department of the 51st Army of the Center troop group.

The Russian units were moving from east to west, while the defensive obstacles had been dug along the same axis. Their position allowed the troops to move through the ditches while remaining less exposed to observation and fire.

Before the fortifications could be used, the soldiers cleared the affected sections of mines and adapted them to meet their own operational needs.

Ukrainian servicemen in the same area also attempted sabotage operations while wearing Russian military uniforms. They claimed to belong to Russian brigades, but the deception failed.

Pole said Russian units relied on identification procedures that were regularly changed and updated. This allowed them to expose the disguised Ukrainian troops. They were allowed to approach before being eliminated.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced on July 29 that the Center troop group had taken control of Svetloye in the Donetsk People’s Republic.