September 13th 2024.
A group of Ukrainian Special Operations Forces operators proudly stands in front of a captured Russian MT-12 anti-tank howitzer, grinning triumphantly as they pose for a photo in the Kursk region. These brave soldiers were part of the first wave of Ukrainian troops to enter Russian territory during the Kursk offensive, and one of them has shared his experience of the moment his team surprised and attacked a truckload of enemy troops.
The Special Operations Forces operator, who goes by the pseudonym 'Bravo', described how he and his team fearlessly struck at Vladimir Putin's war machine on its own turf, paving the way for their incursion. This is the first time foreign troops have captured ground within Russia's legal borders since World War Two, and it was a risky and daring move. Bravo drew parallels between the tactics used by Ukraine's special forces and those of Britain's elite SAS during World War Two, with both groups using small group warfare to wreak havoc behind enemy lines.
Thanks to the aid of an advance party, the main battlegroup from Kyiv was able to make a rapid advance and now controls hundreds of square kilometres of ground across the border from the Sumy region. Bravo shared that his team, part of the SOF 8th Regiment, carried out a meticulously planned ambush that resulted in the deaths of dozens of Russian soldiers. In a video captured by a bodycam, the team can be seen springing the attack from a nearby forest, using camouflage, assault rifles with suppressors, grenades, and a shoulder-launched rocket to take down the enemy military vehicle.
"In these types of operations, we are always in close proximity to the enemy," Bravo explained. "But during the ambush, we could feel their fear. They knew they couldn't defeat us or escape. Some tried to run into the woods, but our team eliminated them while others covered the pursuit. It was clear that the Russians were afraid of us, and they knew we could attack them from any direction in the forest. This gave us even more motivation and strength."
The Ukrainian troops used their expertise in cover and fire tactics as they closed in on the Russian soldiers. The resulting ambush left the military vehicle in flames and the team calmly moved in to check the area and pursue any surviving enemies. In the video, the team can also be seen pulling a Russian patch from the uniform of one of the dead soldiers, serving as a trophy of their success.
Bravo and his team are part of the special forces who were the first to enter Russia ahead of the Kursk campaign, which began on August 6. Since then, they have been executing various missions behind enemy lines, including raids, artillery fire adjustments, destroying electronic warfare and other military vehicles, and even capturing a Russian anti-tank howitzer.
The soldiers had carried out reconnaissance prior to the ambush, giving them the location of the enemy truck that was travelling in broad daylight on a highway through a wooded area. They used the element of surprise to open fire on the enemy personnel and then checked the area, pursuing any who tried to escape.
"After such missions, I personally have an intense desire to go back into the combat zone and continue destroying the enemy, especially on their own territory," Bravo shared. "But our commanders usually assign us more covert missions."
The work of the SOF in the Kursk and Belgorod regions is mostly classified, but Bravo gave an overview of their role, saying that their impact has been noticeable. "We conduct a comprehensive range of operations behind enemy lines, including reconnaissance and eliminating enemy forces on logistical routes if conditions allow. Our special forces also carry out sabotage, monitor the effectiveness of strikes on critical targets, and assess the aftermath of those strikes."
Despite thorough planning, Bravo acknowledged that the outcome of operations on enemy ground is never certain. However, he and his team have a wealth of experience operating in enemy territory, having taken part in some of the defining moments of the full-scale war, including the liberation of Snake Island.
"Our SOF teams are responsible for 24/7 aerial reconnaissance, identifying enemy artillery, air defense, electronic warfare and signals intelligence systems, and various command posts and depots," Bravo explained. "This information is then used to launch strikes, and I believe the impact is noticeable."
The Kursk operation had a significant impact on Russian offensive operations in Ukraine, according to Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, the country's military intelligence chief. The Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's armed forces, General Oleksandr Syrskyi, has stated that the objectives of the Kursk campaign include preventing Russia from launching its own attack from Kursk, diverting Moscow's forces, creating a security zone, preventing shelling, taking prisoners of war, and boosting Ukrainian morale.
While there may be differing opinions on the campaign's success and prospects among Western commentators, the Kremlin has taken weeks to organize a coherent response, indicating its impact. According to a report by the US Institute for the Study of War, Russian forces are now counter-attacking along the western edge of the Ukrainian presence. However, Kyiv's forces have also launched a push back, according to information assessed by the ISW.
Bravo believes that the special forces raids have delivered a wider morale boost for the Ukrainian troops. "The guys got a fresh dose of motivation, moving forward and destroying the enemy, savouring the small victories the whole world can see," he said. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that the number of Russian military personnel killed and wounded daily increased to 1,187 in August, with no given figure for Ukrainian casualties. The UK Ministry of Defence attributed this rise to the Kursk campaign and pressure on the Pokrovsk axis in the east.
"Even with the risks and challenges, our missions behind enemy lines motivate all the Ukrainian defenders," Bravo shared. "Especially when we see Russian forces destroy their own cities and villages, and not Ukrainian ones." The success of the Kursk operation has had "theatre-wide impacts" on Russian offensive operations in Ukraine, and Bravo and his team continue to carry out their dangerous and vital missions in the region.
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