In search of a new approach, Russian forces recently launched their largest mechanized assault in many months against Ukrainian positions in the Donetsk Oblast. Nevertheless, it represents one of the largest Russian mechanized assaults recorded in the past year. As such, it is unclear why Russian commanders ordered this large mechanized assault. A large mechanized assault could have been the next step if Russian commanders believed enough infiltration sites had been established to support the advance. Over the past two years, Russian armored vehicles have adopted a range of modifications to improve their survivability against drones.