Ukraine rolls out kamikaze 'zombie cars' to capture 250 Russian soldiers

Key Points:

• Ukraine deployed unmanned Soviet-era BTR-60 armored vehicles, dubbed “zombie cars,” in Operation Vivaldi to breach heavily fortified Russian defenses and capture 250 Russian soldiers in the city of Nove.
• The 3rd Army Corps led the operation, liberating multiple villages including Nove, Ridkodub, Katerynivka, Karpivka, and Novomykhailivka, reclaiming nearly 68 square miles of territory from Russian control.
• Brig. Gen. Andrii Biletskyi highlighted the unexpected mass surrender of Russian troops, including officers and artillerymen, challenging the notion that Russians do not surrender.
• The innovative use of mechanized unmanned vehicles reflects Ukraine’s evolving tactics in response to Russia’s ongoing invasion, with an estimated 2,000 Russian casualties in the recent offensive.
• Despite these gains, Russian forces still control approximately 45,000 square miles, or about 20% of Ukraine’s territory, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.