Russian invasion of Ukraine

At the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Mala Tokmachka became a frontline settlement during Russia's initial advance into the nation. The population would drop to only around 200 people by May 2023 due to the proximity of the fighting to the village and consistent Russian shelling which destroyed much of the local infrastructure and utilities.^[4] The settlement would remain as part of the minor Mala Tokmachka–Novofedorivka,^[5] Mala Tokmachka–Ocheretuvate,^[6] Mala Tokmachka–Polohy,^[7] and Kamianske–Mali Shcherbaky–Mala Tokmachka,^[8] frontlines until 7 June 2023, when Ukrainian forces would first attempt to push the fighting away from the settlement during the 2023 Ukrainian counteroffensive in the south.^[7] Armed with new western equipment,^[7] the initial attack by Ukraine's 47th Assault Brigade and 33rd Mechanized Brigade went poorly. A Ukrainian tank column came under anti-tank missile fire while attempting to cross a minefield outside of the village.^[9] The failed attack would result in up to 25 Ukrainian vehicles becoming damaged or destroyed, including at least one Leopard 2, which would result in a good deal of negative coverage about the effectiveness of the new counteroffensive among multiple news and social media outlets.^[9][10] The total number of vehicles lost would be lessened by the later retrieval and repair of some of the damaged vehicles.^[11]

Despite the original set-back, Ukrainian Brigadier General Oleksii Hromov would claim that Ukrainian forces had advanced up to 3 km (1.9 mi) near the settlement since beginning their counteroffensive on 15 June.^[12] A lack of a major breakthrough on this part of the frontline for Ukrainian forces would lead to largely positional fighting being taken up by late June.^[6] The frontlines have moved (as of late September 2023) some kilometers, as Ukrainian forces have recaptured land.