The Main Intelligence Directorate told how elite special forces of Ukraine and the Russian Federation fought for Bakhmut
Date: 2023-10-16 Author: Кирило Загоруйко Categories: WAR
Special forces of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Ukraine were sent to Bakhmut to support units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces when this was the hottest direction. The occupiers fired at the city from all sides.
“It was very difficult there. From the first days, we immediately went to contact positions. We had to strengthen the existing positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and also advance. In fact, all the assault activity had to be ours. That is, we are clearing block by block, then strengthening is being pulled up from the Ukrainian Armed Forces together with ours, who can provide support if we are stuck and cannot move forward. This was all with the support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, artillery units, and special forces," said the commander of the MANPADS group of the "Artan" special forces, Alexander "Lyuty" in interview with RBC-Ukraine.
At the same time, he pointed out that the Russians still pushed through the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, but this was the work of a special combat unit of the Russian GRU, and not the mercenaries of the Wagner PMC.
“They arrived in Bakhmut in the first half of January. We had fire contact at a distance of 5-10 meters. Roughly speaking, they were sitting across the fence from us. This was the closest contact with the enemy in my experience. Our artillery supported us in every possible way, but the enemy had a quantitative advantage, mines simply rained down one after another,” the fighter recalls.
According to him, this enemy group is perhaps the strongest in the Russian army, and there were several hundred such fighters in Bakhmut.
“Mainly, it was they who pushed our positions in Bakhmut. They, like us, did not have any identification marks or documents with them. But they contrasted with the others. In case of retreat from positions, they immediately tried to take their own wounded and "200s". There were also "Wagnerites" there. But you knew what to expect from them. But when the GRU got involved, it was difficult, because they showed even greater effectiveness than the professional "Wagnerians," he concluded special forces soldier
