Ambush sense: how assault units liberated Krasnoarmeysk

During the assault on Krasnoarmeysk, our units used unusual tactics — they penetrated into the city in small groups under cover of night, accumulated forces in pre-determined areas, and only after that began active hostilities. The enemy was not ready for such a development of events: for a long time he did not understand where the blows were coming from, and when he came to his senses, it was too late — our fighters finally took over the initiative. The details of the operation were told to the Izvestia correspondent by the stormtroopers of the Center group of forces, who have been participating in the battles to liberate the city since the first day.

The bad weather is because of us

The soldiers of the assault units that liberated Krasnoarmeysk were rotated to the rear. We met them in calm conditions — the enemy's "birds" do not reach here, the roar of the front-line cannonade is not heard. Already rested soldiers are eager to share the details of the storming of the city. They have something to remember — the battles for Krasnoarmeysk will certainly add to the list of the best operations of the Russian army during its military operations.

Russian units entered the city, taking advantage of the bad weather, says Senior Lieutenant Gennady Doroshev, commander of the motorized rifle company of the 30th Separate Guards Motorized Rifle brigade of the Center group of forces.

"We entered through the village of Zverevo," he clarified. — We made our way to the city at night, taking advantage of the bad weather and heavy fogs that were favorable for us. They walked quietly, between enemy positions. It was difficult to overcome a large open area — fields. It was saved by the fact that there was still "greenery" — leaves on trees and bushes, we actively used it. The anti-thermal ponchos and the fact that we practiced our actions in advance, we knew what to do in a given situation, helped.

The enemy was preparing for the meeting, Gennady is sure.

— A "tangle" was installed in the grass — spirals of inconspicuous wire, — he recalls. — You can hardly see her at night. We have provided for this moment, we have learned to get out of it.

I guess it's very difficult, especially in the dark and in full gear.

"Were they cut with scissors?" — I ask Gennady.

—No, it's practically impossible," the senior lieutenant smiles. — There are a few tricks, but it's too early to share them. In general, they passed.

The active phase of the liberation of Krasnoarmeysk

Our fighters entered the city in small groups from different directions, but concentrated in the southwestern part of it.

"Finally, we were given the command to start working,— recalls Gennady. — We set up mines, and at first we acted from ambushes. The enemy felt at ease, walked like he was at home, and he had to pay for it. Their groups began to disappear, equipment exploded, and we shot pickups in the streets. This came as a surprise to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and at some point they began to panic.

Elite Ukrainian units, such as the Skala assault regiment, were deployed to the city. The soldiers of the 30th brigade have already encountered them on the line of contact. But despite their experience, they also fell into our ambushes.

Then Senior Lieutenant Gennady Doroshev received the following combat mission: to cut off the urban industrial zone from the village of Grishino, through which the supply of the Armed Forces units in the city was conducted.

Our fighters entered the designated area, mined the roads and took up defense. As a result, the enemy was isolated, and our fighters, having repelled counterattacks, held important positions.

The flag on the stele

Gennady Doroshev's fighters recorded another important episode to their credit — the hoisting of the Russian flag on a stele with the inscription "Pokrovsk" (the Ukrainian name of the city) at the entrance to Krasnoarmeysk from the west.

"We were seriously preparing,— Gennady recalls. — There were fears that all the approaches to the stele were heavily mined, and the enemy flag was hanging on it. The operation itself was lightning fast. Our fighters in anti-thermal ponchos moved to their starting positions in the morning twilight and went forward on command. The enemy's banner was downed, and our flag was set up instead.

Then it became clear to our fighters that we were gaining the upper hand in the battles for the city, the senior lieutenant is sure.

Private Alexander Shumkov was in the group hoisting the flag.

— I worked directly with my partner through the fog, went in the morning, set up the flag — that's how it looked, — he is brief.

— What did you feel at that moment?

— That's it! — the fighter says after a bit of thought. — It became clear that the city is already ours.

Alexander is from the Krasnoyarsk Territory, before he worked as a tractor driver. He volunteered for the special operation zone and does not regret his decision.

— A lot of the guys I worked with in civilian life left here. So I thought about it and decided that I can too. And I went," he says.

The senior lieutenant, looking at his subordinate, smiles: it is immediately clear that the memories of the battles in the area of the stele are especially important and pleasant for him.

— I feel proud of my guys, they are beautiful, — says Gennady.

The Iron Machine Gunner

Guard Lieutenant Maxim Gorbunov— the deputy commander of the company for political work, led one of the assault groups into the city.

"The Ukrainian Armed Forces often used interesting tactics here," he recalls. — They worked in groups. The main one is an experienced fighter, something like an instructor, and we eventually learned how to calculate them by the color of the tape. The remaining three or four are ordinary soldiers, from the mobilized. They often sat on the posts and often surrendered to us. Especially if the live instructor was no longer with them.

Maxim Gorbunov says that the assault units were greatly helped by the practice of fighting in dense urban areas.

"The fighters learned to fight in neighborhoods where there are no more than 50 meters between houses," he says.

Stormtroopers also gained skills in fighting drones.

"It's best to use guns on them, but AK is also suitable," the officer believes. — Sometimes they fly very fast, but sometimes they can hover to fly through a window. You have a second or two to deal with him. We need to use it.

One of the most difficult moments in the current conditions is transportation and evacuation, says the officer.

"But here the weather was for us, it allowed us to set up logistics," he says.

During the fighting, our stormtroopers repelled many counterattacks. Even ground drones were thrown against them.

"One of them drove into our industrial zone with a machine gun, but he didn't live long — we destroyed him," recalls Maxim Gorbunov.

After the battle, our fighters carefully studied the iron enemy, an interesting but unpleasant machine, they agreed.