In the Bakhmut direction, elite Russian paratroopers were captured “from the hole”: details of the operation
Date: 2024-01-30 Author: Кирило Загоруйко Categories: WAR
The group leader of the reconnaissance unit of the 30th separate mechanized brigade named after Prince Konstantin Ostrozhsky with the call sign “Tanto” spoke about the hunt for elite Russian paratroopers in the Bakhmut direction.
He shared details of the preparation and conduct of the assault during an interview with TSN correspondent Margarita Potapova on “1+1”. “During the last special operation, we carried out assault operations on the position where the Russian paratroopers were located. That is, it was important for us to take it, because the Russians did not allow our infantrymen to go further to another position. They cut it off, watched, it was inconvenient for us in tactical position,” emphasized “Tanto”.
There were only three days for preparatory activities for the operation - everything had to be planned, aerial reconnaissance practiced, and the coordination of the unit’s actions with the others in the area had to be coordinated. “We need to move out secretly, quickly, with a dash to the starting line and during the movement have fire cover with our various fire weapons. Because after that, it will be literally two minutes to grab grenades and jump into the trenches of the enemy, into their holes and begin cleaning up.” , - the scout emphasized.
To carry out the operation, a group of Ukrainian intelligence units began to move out at dusk. “That is, during the period when they (the Russians) will be replacing drones from daytime to nighttime, so it will be more difficult for them to navigate and notice us. So that later our infantry, which will replace us after the assault on the position, can safely move and enter those "the very trenches where we took the position from the enemy. Their night birds also fly, but we have electronic warfare equipment, anti-drone guns that work out these moments," he explained.
After the scouts concentrated on the extreme point of the front line at night, the main task was to find some kind of cover for an ambush before the assault began. “Everything worked out. The enemy did not know that we were preparing some kind of assault,” he noted.
The operation itself to storm the positions of Russian paratroopers took place in the afternoon. “The group rushed out of the ambush towards the enemy positions. During the assault, the Russian paratroopers, as they say, their elite, were sitting in a hole and preparing food for themselves. It was approximately 15.00 and they probably decided to have lunch. For us it was good, but for them not so much. Because during this time we managed to rush to their position and begin to storm,” emphasized the head of the group of the Tanto reconnaissance unit.
According to the intelligence officer, the captured Russian paratroopers said that “all they had time to do was tell them that they were being attacked.” “They didn’t even have time to run away or take up some of their firing points in order to fight with us. “They stayed in that hole, but they fired back and didn’t want to immediately surrender,” he added.
During the assault, some defenders were slightly injured. “They continued to carry out their tasks. Even wounded on the hands by shrapnel, they loaded magazines (of machine guns), supplied grenades to those group fighters who cleared enemy holes and fought with these paratroopers,” emphasized the head of the group of the Tanto reconnaissance unit.
As a result of the operation, the Russian position was repulsed, and some of the occupiers were captured. “On our side, only light” three hundredths,” I hope they will soon return to us. On a larger scale, this gave our unit, first of all, an improvement in our tactical position. Secondly, it improved the approach to positions, to our neighboring defensive lines ", he concluded.
"Tanto" noted that the most important thing for successful operations on the front line is motivated fighters. "Unfortunately, at this time there are not many people who want to go to war. Let's tell the truth. There are individual people who know what they want to do and they are not afraid. They understand that they are going to fight for Ukraine and defend our land. Motivation of people in our unit, only forward to fulfill our task and beat the enemy,” he emphasized.
