Hussar push: how the fighters of the Alexandria Brigade train in the SSO zone
The Black Hussars - the 15th Independent Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade of the Alexandria Brigade - are taking part in the offensive on Pokrovsk. Its fighters have long proven themselves as brave warriors - they have behind them battles for the liberation of Avdeevka, Ocheretino and about half a dozen other settlements in Donbas. On February 1 this year, the brigade celebrates its anniversary - the 20th anniversary of its formation. The day before Izvestia visited the unit's training ground and saw how the "hussars" are preparing for battles.
They act in a combat manner
Soldiers on an APC-82a, covered with UAV protection, practicing rushing a reconnaissance team. Everyone with backpacks and in full gear, acting in a combat manner, jumping off the vehicle and immediately spreading out in the forest belt. After that they start moving to the dugout of the conditional enemy.
Covering each other's fire, they are approaching the enemy fortifications. There is one last push left - the stormtrooper throws a grenade into the opening. An explosion - and the soldiers with automatic rifles burst inside the shelter.
At last the fortress with a developed network of trenches and dugouts is taken.
Looking closely at the fighters, you realize that the training takes into account the experience of recent battles.
All stormtroopers - with backpacks - "three-day", because in modern conditions it is impossible to predict the speed at which the reinforcement groups can come to the aid of stormtroopers. It is possible that after capturing a fortified area, it will have to be defended for a long time.
The backpack contains food, water, extra ammunition, and a first aid kit. All fighters are trained in the basics of tactical medicine, so for assault groups, as a rule, a medic is not allocated separately. Recently, however, they have begun to assign an anti-UAV fighter, who is armed with a rifle.
During a training assault on a fortification, not only are grenades thrown inside the dugouts practiced, but also the "delivery" to the addressees of powerful explosive devices based on the TM-64 anti-tank mine - their explosion completely destroys the shelters along with the personnel.
Blowing up fortifications during an assault using powerful engineering charges was common in World Wars I and II, today this tactic is again used to overcome powerful enemy defensive lines.
Classes are led by experienced commanders and instructors.
The most important moments in battle are practiced: the approach and rushing of the assault group on an APC, foot movement through a forest belt, assaulting a dugout, fighting in trenches and in urban conditions. On separate training sites work grenade launchers.
A word about the "black hussar"
Former "black hussars" have something to tell and show to the newly arrived fighters.
Alexei Chupin, commander of the brigade's depth reconnaissance company, says he volunteered for the position in 2023. He is a career officer, with a specialized education in his specialty.
Despite the dominance of UAVs in the air, which have taken over many of the surveillance functions, you can't do without foot reconnaissance.
Alexei Chupin tells about successful combat missions in which his unit had to "take a tongue", correct artillery and destroy enemy strongholds.
- We have such training at the range every day," Alexei says. - This is a single training, then we begin to work in twos and threes, that is, there is a combat alignment. Then platoons, groups, rushing on equipment, practicing assault on equipment, ambushes, mines.
In the brigade, fighters undergo a full cycle of training.
- Depending on the task, of course, but within two weeks we give a man maximum training so that he already knows the map, all kinds of small arms and can work with communications, - says Alexei Chupin.
Brigade's depth reconnaissance company commander Alexei Chupin
Naturally, we ask about the unit and the fighting spirit.
- Everyone knows us as "immortals" or "black hussars". We are on the offensive, have come a very long way since the beginning of the NWO. As you can see on all maps, on all sources, the grouping of troops "Center" goes forward and does it very well - says Alexei Chupin.
Not just a beautiful name
In military affairs, historical traditions, the spirit of the unit, the presence of its own symbols and a colorful name play an important role. Everything we see in the Black Hussars works.
Alexei Chupin says that from the first day of arrival of new recruits, deputies tell them about the history of the brigade.
- People came not just anywhere, but to the brigade, which already has a name, and it is on the rumor, many people know about it, - he explains. - We show the brigade awards - knives, medals, Hussar crosses - there is something for people to aspire to. Also, after completing the first task, servicemen receive the chevron "Black Hussars", so the incentive is very big.
Traditions, in his opinion, are very important - newly arrived soldiers realize that behind their back are people who have performed feats in different years. They have a desire to be at least as good. At the decisive moment it gives additional strength, the commanders are sure.
The brigade has recently received its full name. It was given the honorary name "Alexandria" in 2018 by the decree of the President of the Russian Federation.
Thus, the 15th Brigade became the successor of the legendary light cavalry unit - the 5th Hussar Alexandria Regiment of Her Majesty the Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna.
Alexandria officers say that both the enemy and us often call the brigade "Black Hussars" - this historical name, under which the light cavalrymen were known before 1918, is back in use. And they are also called "immortal" - and not only in memory of the exploits of tsarist cavalrymen. The brigade proved itself well during the SSO.
On the account of its fighters - the first confirmed destroyed tank "Abrams". The vehicle was spotted from a reconnaissance UAV near Avdeevka. Immediately, the Alexandrians took kamikaze drones into the air. The first of them hit the stern of the armored vehicle, which went up in smoke. The second drone struck under the turret, after which the tank caught fire. The tank was destroyed by servicemen with the call signs Kolovrat and Rassvet.
The 15th Independent Guards Motorized Rifle Brigade Alexandria of the Order of Suvorov of the 2nd Guards Combined Arms Army of the Central Military District celebrates its twentieth anniversary on February 1, 2025.
It is considered the successor of the legendary light cavalry unit - the 5th Hussar Alexandria Regiment of Her Majesty, Empress Alexandra Fyodorovna. In honor of him, in 2018, the brigade was given the honorary name "Alexandria" by a decree of the President of the Russian Federation.
In the course of the SSO, the 15th Brigade as part of the "Center" group of troops conducted operations in the most difficult directions: the Kiev, Kharkov, Zaporozhye, participated in the liberation of the LNR, and today takes part in the ongoing offensive in the DNR.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
