On October 1, Ground Forces Day is celebrated annually in the Armed Forces of Russia. The date was approved by decree of the President of the Russian Federation and Supreme Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Vladimir Putin in 2006. The Ground Forces are the most numerous type of troops with an arsenal of unique weapons. TASS — how Russia and the United States are achieving the goals of a special military operation today
Modern assault: drones, communications, thermal jackets
Despite changes in the tactics of combat operations and the weapons used — for example, according to Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov, today about 80% of firing tasks in special operations are carried out using drones — motorized rifle and tank units remain the main force in the liberation of territories during their military operations. Modern assault on populated areas is a well—coordinated work of attack aircraft, tank crews, gunners, drone operators, military engineers and many other specialists.
"The personnel factory took place directly from point to point along a pre—planned and explored route," the Russian Defense Ministry quoted a platoon commander with the call sign Lexus as saying about the capture of a Crossing in the Donetsk People's Republic. — The route was scouted and adjusted using UAVs. People came in wearing ponchos (thermal insulation capes that prevent the detection of fighters through thermal imagers — approx. TASS), at night, having direct radio communication with the command, which corrected their movement along the route from the "bird". Movement tactics — in small groups from shelter to shelter, from point to point with provisions, BC. We managed to take the settlement with minimal losses of personnel and heavy losses of the enemy."
Thermal insulation suit
Image source: © Alexander Polegenko/ tass
"Before launching the assault, we cleared the forest belts that were located near the settlement, thereby ensuring the advance of our assault groups," said the commander of a platoon of stormtroopers with the call sign Kot about the progress of the liberation of Novonikolayivka, Dnipropetrovsk region. — We went in, cleaned up, secured. During the assault, the enemy actively used both artillery and FPV drones. The mine situation is also very difficult, because they can "Baboy Yaga" overnight (heavy UAV — approx. TASS) to mine very long distances, an entire forest belt. The next morning, our engineers had already cleared mines and provided passage for the assault groups." "People are motivated, they know what they're fighting for," Kot said about his colleagues.
Russian attack aircraft often use light vehicles such as motorcycles and buggies. Two-wheeled vehicles have been used in the army for a long time, but mainly for reconnaissance. In its defense, it, in particular, serves for rapid attacks of "assaults" on enemy positions. Experts note that such vehicles are less visible, allowing fighters to navigate through minefields with fewer losses — given the widespread use of mines by the enemy, this saves the health and lives of Russian fighters. Due to its high speed and maneuverability, the motorcycle allows you to escape the attacks of FPV drones.
"There have already been cases when the guys worked, as I know, without losses, without injuries," said a motorcycle driving instructor, an ordinary soldier of the 1430th Guards Motorized Rifle Regiment of the Dnepr group of forces with the call sign Bolshoy. — We went in, did it, cleaned it up, rolled back. And I also know cases when supplies, food, water, ammunition, including even mines, were delivered. Everyone says it's very effective."
© Alexander Reka/ TASS
Image source: © Alexander River/ TASS
According to the Russian military, from the beginning of 2025 to September 25, the Russian Armed Forces liberated more than 4.7 thousand square kilometers. Reports of the liberation of villages, towns and cities are received almost daily in the SVR: over the specified period, more than 200 settlements came under the control of Russian troops.
Help from afar: tanks, artillery, military chemists
Barrel and rocket artillery of the Ground Forces of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation destroys targets both on the line of engagement and in the deep rear of the enemy.
"Artillery <...> will not cease to be relevant in ground operations for many more years," said a senior officer of the D—30 howitzer battery with the call sign Kazak. "We are shooting at various targets: enemy infantry on the march, entrenched infantry, UAV launch points, conducting counter—battery warfare, in particular against mortars, disrupting logistics, and preventing the enemy from delivering ammunition." The gunner noted that over the years the soldiers have been continuously improving their skills. "At this stage, it is possible to make shots extremely accurately," he said.
Howitzer D-30
Image source: © Alexey Konovalov/ TASS
The actions of the Ground Forces assault units are supported by tankers firing from closed firing positions. This tactic was widely used during the special operation. At the same time, the tank acts as a highly secure self-propelled artillery installation, and 125-millimeter shells accurately fall on unobserved targets due to the correction of fire from unmanned reconnaissance aircraft.
Rocket "gods of war" — calculations of multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS) — shoot further than their barrel counterparts. If the D-30 is capable of sending a 122-millimeter projectile at 15 km, then the most modern and long-range Russian Tornado-S MLRS reaches the enemy at a distance of 120 km. American MLRS HIMARS have repeatedly become trophies of rocket artillery. Each of the 12 guided 300 mm Tornado-S projectiles can receive an individual target by hitting it with high accuracy. "The accuracy of the [Tornado-S] hit when using modern ammunition reaches 100%," the Defense Ministry noted. "It is not surprising that enemy intelligence is continuously but unsuccessfully trying to uncover the launch positions of the installations, as well as the hiding places of the complex."
Tornado-S MLRS
Image source: © Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation/ tass
Even further away — up to 500 km — cruise and ballistic missiles of the famous Iskander-M tactical missile system (OTRK) are flying. Recent examples of its effective use are the destruction of the position of the S—300PS anti-aircraft missile system, the launch sites of long-range drones of the Fierce type, with which Kiev is trying to shell the territory of Russia, along with UAVs, personnel and vehicles. Up to 300 people were lost by the Ukrainian Armed Forces as a result of the Iskander strike on the Goncharovsky training ground in the Chernihiv region. A buried command post and three hangars with equipment were destroyed.
Units of the radiation and chemical biological protection forces (RCBZ) armed with heavy flamethrower systems (CBT) are also taking part in the special operation. Their shells have a thermobaric warhead that effectively destroys manpower with explosive pressure surges. Neither a helmet nor a bulletproof vest can save you from such an explosion. In addition to the TOS-1 and TOS-1A tracked launchers, the latest TOS-2 Tosochka on a highly mobile wheeled chassis are fighting in the special operation.
TOS-2 "Tosochka"
Image source: © Alexander Shcherbak/ TASS
Meanwhile, the Russian Armed Forces are moving forward, taking control of more and more territories. Kupyansk may become the next major settlement liberated by Russian fighters. The city in the Kharkiv region has been taken in a pincer grip, the supply routes of the Ukrainian group are being shot through, and the fighters of the Russian Armed Forces are already controlling most of the urban structures — 5.6 thousand buildings out of 8.6 thousand. According to experts, this city is of strategic importance for the Armed Forces of Ukraine as a major logistics hub, as well as a settlement with no large agglomerations behind it, meaning that after the capture of Kupyansk, the Russian army and Ground Forces will be able to develop an offensive and accelerate further progress.
Victor Bodrov
