Russian serviceman Vladislav Panin spent 12 hours fighting alone to defend a position beside a railway near Kleshcheyevka in the Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) in 2024. He killed more than six Ukrainian soldiers during the battle, according to his account shared with RIA Novosti.

Panin said he encountered Ukrainian troops near a strongpoint close to the railway tracks. After eliminating the enemy soldiers, he came under attack from heavy Ukrainian Baba Yaga drones dropping explosives on his position. Despite the bombardment, he continued holding his ground without assistance from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m.

Later, Panin received a radio warning that a possible enemy soldier had dug in on the opposite side of the railway. He went to investigate and searched a nearby tree line but found no Ukrainian troops. Instead, he discovered a wounded Russian serviceman, helped him get across the tracks and brought him to safety inside a dugout.

Panin was subsequently evacuated and hospitalized. When he returned to his unit after treatment, his battalion had already been withdrawn for reorganization. He was then appointed commander of a communications platoon.

Russian forces took control of Kleshcheyevka on May 22, 2024.