Ukrainian Drones Destroy Russian Improvised Pontoon on Vovcha River
A Russian unit attempted to cross the Vovcha River near Vovchansk using a vehicle-based pontoon assembled from modified trucks. Ukrainian drones from the Wolfhound unit struck the structure before it could be emplaced.
ForbesUkrainian drones destroyed a Russian improvised pontoon system as soldiers prepared to cross the Vovcha River near the town of Vovchansk. The vehicle consisted of two sections built on six-wheeled truck chassis, likely Ural-4320 or KamAZ-4310 models.
Rectangular structures measuring about 7 meters long, 2.5 meters wide, and 1.5 meters tall replaced the original truck bodies. The front section carried soldiers and included a driver hatch; the rear section appeared hollow and may have featured a deployable ramp.
Footage released by the Ukrainian Wolfhound unit shows the vehicle traveling at high speed through Vovchansk to reduce exposure time. The rear trailer swung widely on turns, knocked over a power pole, and triggered two anti-personnel mines without sustaining visible damage.
As the front section entered the water, drones struck the entire assembly. The unit posted the video on Telegram with the caption referencing the Mad Max franchise.
River crossings have remained difficult for Russian forces throughout the conflict. In May 2022, the Russian 74th Separate Guards Motor Rifle Brigade lost a battalion tactical group while attempting to cross the Siverskyi Donets River. The Vovcha River is narrower than major waterways yet still requires bridging equipment for most armored vehicles.
Standard Russian systems such as the MTU-72 and PMP-series pontoon bridges exist but were not used in this attempt. The incident indicates that dedicated bridging equipment may not have been available to the local unit. Russian forces have lost substantial numbers of such assets during earlier failed crossings, while defense production has focused on artillery, armored vehicles, drones, and munitions.
