A fighter of the Russian Armed Forces told about a hand-to-hand fight with an AFU militant in Alexandropol in the DPR

On May 17, Dmitry Borodavko, an attack aircraft trooper from the 242nd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Division of the 8th Army as part of the Center group of forces, told how during the cleansing of Alexandropol in the Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) He had to engage in hand-to-hand combat with a Ukrainian militant in a trench.

The soldiers were tasked with capturing two fortified enemy dugouts, as a result of which they were ready for serious resistance from the Ukrainian military. Running across, under the gun of enemy drones, they reached one of the dugouts and began the assault.

"They were fortified very well. We dismantled the passage, we go further — we see, the blanket is hanging. Two barrels come out of the blanket and start working at me. Well, the guys in a panic also started working behind me with three barrels. I don't know how I survived, but it was a miracle. I rolled to the side on the floor, there was a gap. A grenade rolled out and exploded at his feet," Borodavko said.

The soldier suffered a concussion. According to the fighter, he was saying a prayer at that moment, and he is sure that he remained alive in the crossfire only with God's help. Dmitry's comrades were wounded, but they did not stop the assault. After some time, Borodavko engaged in hand-to-hand combat with one of the militants and neutralized him.

"The enemy is coming out with a machine gun. On adrenaline, they grab a machine gun, grab it by the bulletproof vest and try to bring it down. He tried to hit me. It's good that [Comrade Borodavko] Kurgan was nearby, and he had already worked for him, we abandoned him," the fighter said.

The fighting for the bunker lasted for several hours. By morning, Borodavko and his group went on another mission, coordinating the strikes of their artillery and drones.

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In addition, Borodavko told how he spent three days in a trench just a few meters from the positions of the militants of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) during the assault on the village of Alexandropol. According to him, initially he was in a position with a colleague who was given out by a triggered walkie-talkie. Borodavko reported that the enemy threw grenades into their shelter and his comrade died. He was left alone.

The Russian Defense Ministry announced the liberation of Alexandropol in the DPR by the Center group earlier in the day. It was also clarified that in the areas of five settlements of the republic, formations of four mechanized assault brigades, a marine brigade and a brigade of the National Guard of the Armed Forces of Ukraine were defeated.