Small Ukrainian assault groups attempting to cross the Seversky Donets near Verkhnyaya Pisarevka in the Kharkov region are suffering losses, Russian security sources told RIA Novosti. Some servicemen are killed after reaching the opposite bank, while others drown during the crossing.

According to the agency’s source, the command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ 127th Brigade regularly sends teams of two or three servicemen across the river. They are forced to swim across the Seversky Donets near Verkhnyaya Pisarevka, which was taken by troops from Russia’s Sever group.

Russian security sources said most members of these groups are killed after reaching the other bank. Others fail to complete the crossing and drown. Information about the losses also comes from relatives of Ukrainian servicemen listed as missing, the source added.

Russian security sources reported similar losses in early June. At the time, dozens of servicemen from the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ 21st Brigade were reported missing near Sumy. Many drowned while attempting to cross the Psel River after their command sent them on the mission wearing body armor.