They beat Grad: how jet fighters hit the control points of the APU drones
Currently, units of the Dnepr group of forces are actively attacking the positions of 12 Ukrainian brigades. Last week alone, up to 380 military personnel and dozens of pieces of military equipment were destroyed. The successes at the front are, of course, a complex merit of all units of the group, but nevertheless the gunners play a special role in such battles. The Izvestia correspondent visited one of the units and found out how the fighters detect and destroy the enemy using multiple rocket launchers "Grad".
The reaction agronomist
At the entrance to the location of the rocket artillery battery of one of the motorized rifle divisions of the Dnepr group of forces, a security guard stares into the open windows of the car with a tenacious gaze. He quickly figures out that we can be skipped. However, it warns that all means of mobile communication must be disabled. It seemed that security and safety are given serious importance here.
After a while, I moved to the dugout of the battery commander with the call sign Vistula.
He tells the details of the last fights. A Ukrainian special unit of attack drones called Ronin entered the area for which his battery is responsible.
— To be honest, they really bother us, — says Wisla. — There are four Grads in the battery. There is an intelligence unit. Recently, scouts in the area of one of the settlements controlled by the Armed Forces of Ukraine discovered two targets. These were the UAV control points. They quickly moved to firing positions and covered the indicated squares with an accurate volley of rocket packs. Both targets were destroyed. It was clearly visible from the recordings of the objective control cameras. Their ammunition also detonated there. In general, it pulled hard.
According to him, the intensity of his unit's combat work depends on the operational and tactical situation.
"In 2023, when the enemy launched their counteroffensive, we got tired of charging up," says Vistula. — Now, of course, it's different. When our infantry is advancing, we work more often. Then there may be a lull. Right now, the regime is such that two cars leave in shifts to the temporary deployment point for six days, on combat duty. One of the regiments is advancing in our direction.
The motherland has called
The officer says that he was born in the Volgograd region, into a family of workers.
— After school, he entered the Volgograd Agricultural Academy, from which he successfully graduated with a diploma in agronomy, — he says. — There was a military department at the university, where I mastered the specialty of an artilleryman. After that, he served in this specialty for military service.
After 20 years, his homeland called him again.
— I have to do the land: plant, grow, — says the commander. — And here's what you have to do. But never mind, we will defeat the enemy, then we will continue to sow and reap.
Vistula
The officer's family remained at home: his wife and a schoolgirl daughter.
— When I retired, my daughter was 9 years old. She's almost a girl now," says the battalion commander about his family.
Fasting recalls the time when he was mobilized.
— In 2022, I found myself in the Moscow region on training courses, — says Vistula. — Back then, few people had any idea what fighting was. We are civilians. And, of course, it was scary. I looked at the ordinary soldiers, noticing the fear in their eyes. I knew that if they saw the same fear in my eyes, it would be completely wrong. I try to approach everything with humor. Nowhere without him.
Three years without losses
After the "training", his unit turned out to be in the Zaporozhye direction.
"We received the equipment and got acquainted with it,— the officer recalls. — I was lucky that I served on the Grads. Turned out to be the only one with such an experience. Human nature is such that when the body gets into a stressful situation, it begins to extract the necessary memories from memory. Slowly, he began to reanimate in his head what he knew, to transfer knowledge to the staff.
According to him, they adapted to combat conditions on the move.
"We learned how to instantly leave a position after combat work, defend ourselves from drones, disguise ourselves correctly, and dig in," he says. — At first, we didn't always understand how accurately and efficiently we worked. It was a difficult time. Not everything was set up. Gradually, reconnaissance drones and observers appeared, which conduct objective control.
He also remembers his first first fight.
"It's scary to remember our first shooting," he says. — We worked out and stayed in place. After 40 minutes, they returned fire on us. It was lucky that there were three caponiers behind our position. We drove the car into one of them. The personnel took refuge in the second one. Thank God, there were no losses. Our five volleys were answered with four. Gradually, the combat experience grew. Three years later, we are already like one family. An experienced combat team. All the elements are worked out to the point.
Vistula says that his unit, with minor changes, has been fighting since the first day.
"During all this time, there has not been a single irretrievable loss in my battery — this is important for me as a commander," he notes.
I see that icons are neatly arranged in the corners of the battalion commander's dugout. I'm asking: Are you a very devout person?
— But think about it, what is it, luck or skill? — He says. — It happens that you come for a reconnaissance, set up a bussole, look at the landmarks, but the point does not snap and that's it. And everything seems to be there to attach a point. But no, the dot goes away and that's it. Okay, we're moving 500 meters away, and in seven minutes we can do everything. We take a position. A day or two passes, and in the very place where it was not possible to get attached, several accurate enemy arrivals hit. Is that how to explain it? I don't know.
The battalion commander smiles, and then says:
— Probably a divine providence! You know how, I don't believe in God. I know it exists. Why should I believe in what is?! But before each combat work, I make a short prayer. I always ask the Lord: give me the strength and intelligence not to let the boys down. It was important to me, especially at first. There was little experience. I didn't know some things yet. And there is a high probability of making a decision that could eventually lead to tragedy. But thank God! They were avoided.
Battery life
There is everything you need for a normal life on the territory of the permanent location of the battery. First, I pass by a sports town where the fighters keep fit. A little to the side, I see equipped showers. Of course, there is also a dining room.
I finish my route at the dugouts where the personnel are resting. Going down to one of them, I get acquainted with three fighters.
The loader driver with the call sign Motya, as well as the battalion commander, has been here since the very beginning of the special operation. It was mobilized in 2022.
— The summons came, without hesitation, I went to the assembly point, — he says. — I was 24 years old then. I ended up in this division because I graduated from DOSAAF to become a truck driver. I was assigned to Grad.
It turned out that in civilian life he served as an altar boy.
"He served at the temple in Shcherbinka for many years, since childhood," the soldier clarifies.
According to him, the understanding that you are not at the resort came to him back in the Moscow region school, where he was sent after the assembly point in Moscow.
— When we were heading for the first combat mission, of course, it was scary, — he says. — But you can't panic, and they understood that too. We tried to be as focused and accurate as possible.
He remembers the moment when his team went on another combat mission two years ago and the enemy returned fire on him.
"We shot back quickly, but they started hitting us unexpectedly fast," he says. — Fortunately, they have passed us by. It doesn't feel good. A momentary fright, a lump flies up to the throat, but they are not confused. They quickly rolled up and left the position.
Motya
The telephone operator with the call sign Alex was mobilized in September 2022.
"I was in military service as a specialist in electronic intelligence," he recalls.
According to him, the first time after the draft I felt uncomfortable.
"Gradually, we adjusted our lives with our own hands, got used to the combat situation," the guy explains in a modestly low voice. But it turned out that he was awarded the St. George's Cross of the fourth degree.
The scout with the call sign Gray ended the conversation. He said that when he saw on TV how the Supreme Commander-in-Chief called on people to help the Fatherland, he himself came to the military enlistment office.
From left to right: Alex and Gray
— I ran into a full house that was there. I asked one of the employees of the institution, where do you recruit volunteers here? I was told that, they say, it's not up to you right now, wait, they'll contact you. Two weeks later, the summons arrived.
By his admission, he did not become a scout immediately.
"At first, I was appointed to the position of a computer scientist," he says. — The staff structure has gradually improved. Responsibilities were clearly distributed according to knowledge and skill.
Sedoy says that they have almost 40 people in the battery and everyone is in their place.
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