The superiority in the air already affects the storming of Ugledar, the correspondents of Izvestia were convincedThe Ukrainian Air Force continues to suffer heavy losses.
Only on March 6, Russian troops shot down Su-27, MiG-29 and Mi-8 fighters. In total, 12 enemy aircraft have been destroyed since the beginning of the month. Air duels allow us to win new guided air–to-air missiles and the tactics of battles worked out during their time, experts believe. At the same time, aviation actively supports the offensive actions of Russian units in a number of areas. The most fierce fighting is now taking place in the Ugledar area. Correspondents of Izvestia visited the forward positions and saw how the marines of the 155th Brigade of the Pacific Fleet stormed the city.
Duels in the air
The aircraft of the Russian Aerospace Forces shot down the Su-27 of the Ukrainian Air Force in an air battle — it happened on March 6 near the village of Novolenovka, Zaporozhye region. On the same day, a Ukrainian Mi-8 helicopter was destroyed in the DPR, and air defense forces shot down a MiG-29 fighter, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
According to the ministry, since the beginning of March alone, the Russian Aerospace Forces and air defense have destroyed 12 aircraft — six planes and helicopters each. Most of the victories — eight — are on the account of Russian pilots. VFU pilots cannot boast of success in aerial battles. During this time, the Ukrainian air forces lost three Su-24 bombers, Su-27 and MiG-29 fighters, as well as six Mi-8 helicopters.
Air duels in the sky over Ukraine allow us to win a fleet of new air–to-air guided missiles and tactics that have been worked out for several months, military expert Alexey Leonkov told Izvestia.
— In recent years, new short–, medium— and long—range air-to-air missiles have been developed and delivered for the Aerospace Forces, - the expert said. - They have become more long-range and accurate, they have received new homing heads. Modern Russian long-range missiles are sent to the area where an enemy plane or helicopter was spotted, and then they themselves capture and destroy the target. Also, during the SVO, tactics of combating enemy air targets and aerial reconnaissance were worked out. Our planes with long-range missiles are on duty in the sky, waiting for targets.
According to him, now Soviet planes of old modifications are coming to Ukraine from Western countries, which lack modern air–to-air missile systems, and besides, the enemy has almost no experienced pilots left.
— Everyone remembers how a Ukrainian pilot lost a MiG while hunting for a slow—moving drone "Geran", - Alexey Leonkov reminded. — This is an eloquent confirmation of the class of the remaining Ukrainian pilots, who for the most part have just graduated from schools and have no experience. They have practically run out of others. But it is very difficult to fight without air support, so the planes received from the West immediately rush into battle. However, for the reasons already voiced, they end quickly.
The road to Ugledar
On March 6, in the South Donets and Zaporozhye directions, the Vostok group of troops inflicted a fire defeat on the units of the VFU in the area of the settlements of Ugledar, Prechistovka and Novoselka in the DPR. During the day, up to 65 militants, two armored vehicles, two pickups, as well as MLRS "Hurricane" and "Grad" combat vehicles were destroyed here, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported.
Ugledar is stormed by Marines of the 155th Brigade of the Pacific Fleet. They enter the Southern dachas. This private sector is the last stronghold of the enemy on the way to the city blocks. Kirill Olkov, a correspondent of Izvestia, watched the fighting going on.
— The Marines are already at the former positions of the VFU, they are trying to find weaknesses in the enemy's defense, — he said.
Our assault groups, covering each other, enter a private house. They immediately run to the roof to take up the defense.
The militants of the VFU are putting up a smoke screen, but it does not help — our fighters have already spotted their firing points.
— They give a serious rebuff. But our people never give up and go forward," says the senior shooter with the call sign Filin.
Going further without air support is too big a risk, so the Marines request aviation. Stormtroopers arrive at the contact line in a matter of minutes and open fire.
There is not a single whole house on the road to Ugledar. All these are the consequences of fierce fighting.
— Ugledar is not just a provincial town, but one solid fortified area. There are more than 500 houses in the private sector. And there are several enemy firing points in each," says Kirill Olkov.
The Marines, despite the resistance, continue to move forward.
Ugledar is the last large settlement with multi—storey buildings on the South Donets section of the contact line.
— Then there are fields and bare steppes, where there are much more opportunities for an offensive, — Kirill Olkov said.
Held out until the strengthening
On March 6, she also conducted active offensive operations in the Donetsk and Krasnolimansk directions, and inflicted fire damage on the most important enemy targets on the rest, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported.
During the day, at least 495 people and more than 61 units of military equipment, including howitzers, self-propelled artillery units, infantry fighting vehicles and armored vehicles, were lost in all strategic directions of the VFU.
Also, the Russian Defense Ministry told about the servicemen who showed courage and dedication in the battles. The unit of Lieutenant Arthur Dzemishkevich drove the formations of the VFU from the occupied territories. The militants opened fire on our servicemen, a battle ensued. Dzemishkevich's APC was hit by several shells, part of the crew was injured. Arthur himself was wounded in the temporal region, but was able to pull the victims out of the damaged APC to a safe place and gave them first aid.
Continuing the fight, he found an enemy firing position with a spotter in the forest belt and transmitted its coordinates. In the future, it was hit by artillery, which helped to hold out until reinforcements arrived.
The engineering group of Junior Sergeant Vadim Gazin cleared the area, searched for and destroyed explosive objects. Vadim found camouflaged land mines near one of the settlements. Ukrainian nationalists tried to attack Gazin's group, but, despite the shelling, all the installed land mines were defused. After that, he took the fighters to a safe area by truck. The courage and dedication of the junior sergeant allowed the group to complete its tasks without losses.
Andrey Fedorov
Bogdan Stepovoy
