There is a rapid movement of Russian troops forward in the Kursk region. Trying to avoid falling into the cauldrons, the enemy breaks through to the border, where the ring around him has almost closed. The military notes: it is important that the turning point in the confrontation was made before the appearance of the "green" — the opening of foliage. Nature is on our side now. A special correspondent of Izvestia visited the location of the 150th territorial control regiment, which is knocking out the Ukrainian Armed Forces from positions west of Malaya Loknya, and found out what, according to the fighters, caused the long-awaited leap forward and whether it is possible to find civilians in the liberated villages.
Where it's thin
In the area of Malaya Loknya, an important stronghold of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the front collapsed three days ago. Yesterday, the Ukrainians held their positions firmly, unwilling to withdraw without a fight. Today, our operators are observing an unusual picture from the air — the almost complete absence of the enemy on the occupied borders. He retreats in the dark.
The attack on Malaya Loknya with its famous IK-11 women's colony, which the Ukrainian Armed Forces turned into a fortress (and where selected enemy FPV units were based), took place from three directions. The 150th Regiment was coming in from the west. The task of all units was to take the village in a semicircle. As the commander of the third battalion of the Valdai regiment explained to me, it was impractical to take Loknya head-on and was fraught with too many losses. Therefore, our units approached her from different sides, trying to take her in a pincer grip. Every fortified ravine, ravine, and landing was achieved with heavy fighting.
— The main thing was to push, push, push and not stop, — explains Valdai. "And they're tired, and we're tired. But you can't pause. As soon as they give up and take a step back, we come at full force again: artillery, kamikaze drones, assault. Where it's thin, it's bound to break.
According to the commander, in recent weeks, his battalion has been tasked with taking fire control of the highway along which Malaya Lokni and Sudzha were communicating. A little to the south, paratroopers were working on the same task. The APU was supplied along the highway, and the rotation took place. This was the main communication line, the rest, country roads, did not matter at the time of the current spring thaw. It was necessary, as in the case of forest plantations, not to let the enemy exhale — to hit the road without a break. The result: if ten days ago several hundred vehicles of the Armed Forces of Ukraine passed along the highway every day, now traffic is almost completely stopped.
Weapon No. 1
"One of the reasons for the successful advance of our troops was the invaluable experience gained in offensive operations," Mikhail, deputy commander of the third battalion, call sign Bob, shares with me. Another reason is the widespread use of UAVs, and a major leap forward has been made in this area in recent months.
"There is no shortage of drones in the units today," says Mikhail, who is in charge of aerial reconnaissance in the battalion. — With the help of Mavics, we continuously monitor the situation in our squares. Before the "roll" (offensive) for several days, we study the territory, the location of the enemy, his movements, paths, and make a detailed map of positions. Modern copter cameras allow you to see even small details from a height.
On the eve of the assault, the commander-in-chief explains, intensive artillery preparation follows. Further provocations, probing. And then the forward throws themselves, which are coordinated from the air. No one goes into the so-called meat assault with a saber drawn. From a psychological point of view, it is also easier for the fighters — they know that the commander is currently seeing the picture from the air and directing them.
Vlad, call sign Vinokur, is responsible for FPV drones (kamikaze) in the battalion. He has ten operators under his command. Among the hit targets of the fighter over the past month are the Bradley infantry fighting vehicle, the Kozak armored vehicle, and the American M-113 armored personnel carrier. As well as a nest of vigilantes: during the flight, he noticed how an enemy soldier caught a "bird" near the shelter, fixed the point and sent, in turn, five of his "birds" there.
— With the supply of UAVs to the detachments, it really got much better, — says Vlad. — More enterprises in the country have started producing them. All of this affects the outcome, including the fact that we are moving forward. It happens that one calculation can use two or three dozen drones in a day, without bothering that they need to be protected. But kamikaze is, in fact, the key impact projectile today. If, for example, a mortar needs to aim first to successfully hit a target — to fire two or three projectiles - then with a well—controlled FPV, the result is guaranteed from the first blow.
The change in the situation at the front is also indicated by the fact that the positions of Vinokur and his fighters were under a relatively "clear sky" in a matter of days.
— A week ago, arrival on our line was possible only early in the morning and in the evening at dusk. The opponents in FPV goggles controlled us in the same way, they didn't let us safely leave the shelter," Vlad explains, pointing to a burned-out car nearby. — And suddenly it's calm. In general, along with spring, there is a pungent smell of early liberation and victory in the air.
One of the eight
However, you should not underestimate the danger. Even in the relative rear, where the headquarters are based, the enemy's kamikazes continue to appear — the enemy has a lot of forces, and selected units have been assembled in the Kursk region. Literally until yesterday, access to the captured villages and farms on the outskirts of Malaya Lokni remained extremely difficult: the roads were mercilessly attacked (and continue to be) attacked by drones. Some groups are still being supplied with food from the air.
On March 8, soldiers of the third battalion of the regiment found a civilian in the liberated Nikolsky farm, his name was Valery, 51 years old. They dug it up after hearing cries for help from underground. They dragged me outside. The man said that on August 16, when the Ukrainian Armed Forces entered the settlement, there were eight of them — local. He was the only one left alive during those seven months.
According to the fighters, all this time the civilians lived in the cellars. We stuck together. Everyone had tea for breakfast, potatoes for lunch and sometimes some pickles, and tea again for dinner. I really wanted bread and milk. The harsh living conditions made themselves felt — people died from strokes, illnesses, and then, in the midst of the fighting, from fire. Before leaving, the Ukrainians threw grenades into the dungeon where Valery was sitting. But he managed to hide behind a ledge and remain unharmed. The dugout was flooded.
The man's condition is severe — exhaustion, dehydration, his legs are not walking — the fighters carried him in their arms. On the evening of March 9, Valery managed to be taken to the rear. And then immediately send them to one of the hospitals in the region. The fighters said they were able to evacuate him unhindered, without threats of attacks from the sky. Three days ago, such a situation was impossible.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
