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- A life partner: how a former Ukrainian military man liberates Donbass from the Ukrainian Armed Forces
A life partner: how a former Ukrainian military man liberates Donbass from the Ukrainian Armed Forces
His call sign is Sputnik, and fate has prepared sharp turns for him. He once joined the Ukrainian army, but now he is successfully clearing the territory of Donbass from it. Sputnik himself is from a military dynasty, but retired in 2001, moved from Kharkov to Crimea in 2014 to join the militia, and in 2022 he volunteered for his military service, where he rose to the rank of deputy battalion commander in the 810th Marine Brigade of the North group of Forces. He helped return Crimea to Russia, repelled the Ukrainian Armed Forces counteroffensive in the Zaporizhia region in 2023, advanced near Avdiivka, and then cleared the Kursk region of Kiev militants. He has already been awarded the Order of Courage twice. Izvestia correspondents recorded Sputnik's story about his life choices and military path.
About how he ended up in the Ukrainian army
— I come from a military family. My parents and I have traveled to many garrisons, from the Far East to Ukraine. He graduated from high school in the Kharkiv region back in Soviet times. He also entered a military college there. Then he transferred to another one. After graduating from a military university, he joined the Ukrainian army. He is a signalman by profession. Gradually, he worked his way up from the commander of the communications platoon to the acting chief of communications of the regiment.
About the first manifestations of nationalism in Ukraine
— In 1999, they sent me to Chernivtsi to receive a special communication machine. If in the military unit to which I was seconded, everyone calmly communicated in Russian, then in the city, if you do not understand the Ukrainian language and do not speak it, they did not even sell you goods in the store. At that time, for the first time, I noticed serious manifestations of nationalism in Ukraine. And in 2001, I retired from the Ukrainian army. I didn't want to serve in it.
About joining the Crimean militia
— After his dismissal, he became involved in small business. And then 2014 came with its Maidan. I saw on TV what was happening in Crimea. I packed up my things and went to the peninsula. Joined the militia in Simferopol. We then quickly took control of the local military enlistment office and the military unit in Bakhchisarai.
We did not seize these facilities with weapons in our hands, no. The contractors who served in these units were almost all local residents and, like us, wanted Crimea to be Russian. I was engaged in delivering radio stations, installing them at various posts and servicing them.
After the referendum in which we voted for Crimea to become part of Russia, I remained in the republican military enlistment office. Eventually he moved his family. He served there for two years. Then he transferred to a military hospital, where he repaired and maintained medical equipment. And a little later he became the head of the recreation center.
About striving for freedom
— When the special operation began, I almost immediately arrived at the military enlistment office and asked them to mobilize me. But time passed, I was not drafted, and in September 2022 they called and said that I was not suitable, allegedly because I had a Ukrainian military education. I was trying to resolve this misunderstanding.
As a result, a month later they called and offered a job for mobilization. I took the summons and went to one of the territorial defense regiments. It was formed on the basis of the 810th Marine Brigade.
We were conscripted and trained there. A month later, they took over the defense posts of the Western coast of Crimea. But already in January 2023, our unit was transferred to the Zaporizhia region. We went there as a full-fledged battalion. At that time, he was in the position of chief of communications, commander of a communications platoon. Eventually, the battalion commander offered me the position of his deputy for armament. I agreed.
About his combat path
— A few months later, our battalion took up positions in Rabocino. They defended themselves there until September 2023, repelling the attacks of the very Ukrainian counteroffensive. My duties included providing the battalion with ammunition. Then they learned how to hide and disguise it well — they equipped underground warehouses.
After some time, the unit was transferred to Kherson. And a little later we found ourselves in the Donetsk direction, near Avdiivka.
The security situation for the supply of weapons has only been getting more complicated all this time. Because unmanned weapons were developing incredibly fast. But we were learning. We are already using the "birds" to deliver fuel, food, and water.
On the liberation of the border areas of the Kursk region
— In early August 2024, our battalion was sent to the Kursk area. When we went there, we were provided with 100% ammunition.
To be honest, it was a difficult period. The enemy entered our territory and actively used all available means of destruction. But for us, it was a time of incredible growth in morale. Every fighter wanted to drive the enemy away from his native land as soon as possible. When I went to the positions and command posts, I saw the truly fighting mood in which the personnel were.
About the use of UAVs
— There is a space gap between the beginning of the SVR and the present time in terms of the active use of drones. In 2022, there were almost none. There are a lot of them now. It is clear that the enemy uses them on a large scale, but our counteraction has gradually evolved. We learned how to quickly use electronic warfare and sheathe equipment. In addition, special electronic warfare units, receiving new equipment for their armament, create special safe areas and passages for us. Thanks to this, it also turns out to work successfully.
But as soon as we took a little breath, a new aerial threat appeared — drones on fiber. At first, they worked at a range of 10 km, then it became 20 km, and now it is reaching 40 km. Their only disadvantage is their speed. Sometimes it turns out to shoot them down with a shotgun.
About technique and tactics
"We are actively using Ulan SUVs to deliver supplies and evacuate the wounded. In addition, we use robotic technology. This is a remote-controlled trolley that can travel up to 8 km and carry up to 100 kg. It helps us a lot. But the task is often double. We deliver supplies there, and we evacuate the wounded back. In this regard, the Tiger armored car is an extremely reliable vehicle. They both turned over and withstood RPG fire, and still helped to get the wounded guys out of the line of contact.
To deliver ammunition to the front line, we never use the same routes, the same patterns. After all, the enemy is not asleep, it is constantly tracking us. Therefore, it is vital to use trickery. In Sumy region, for example, almost everywhere there is an open area. There are almost no more forest belts left. Naturally, this complicates our work. But, you know, all these difficulties — they only inspire. We learn and cheat every day. By the way, we eventually created our own battalion service station, where all our equipment is being repaired. We even build homemade buggies there.
There was a case when my assistant and I toured positions in the rear area. Our Nona cannon had to be evacuated from one of them. We picked her up and drove off. Driving through another field, we saw a burnt-out Niva on our way. We slowed down to avoid her. We begin to maneuver, and then my assistant points out the mines to me. The saboteurs mined it along the perimeter of 3-4 m. Thank God, we got our bearings in time and drove around.
About wounds and awards
— We were unloading the tank. And then the arrival of the "bird". Explosion. I was thrown onto the floor and folded in half like a book. Fortunately, the spine was not damaged, but the pelvic bones were slightly damaged. I really wanted to get well as soon as possible. As a result, I returned to the ranks after four months.
I have two orders of Courage. The first one was received in the Kherson direction. Then we delivered the ammunition on time, which, as the command noted, seriously contributed to the fulfillment of the overall combat mission. The second one was awarded for the fact that our unit had damaged enemy equipment. These were two American armored personnel carriers.
About your family
"They're in Crimea. I visited them not so long ago. My daughter recently graduated from the Crimean State University, and before that, from a gold medal school. Now he works in the field of journalism.
Переведено сервисом «Яндекс Переводчик»
