The fighters of the Russian assault groups shared with Izvestia the peculiarities of their training and tactics
There is a shaky balance on the Donetsk section of the line of contact. Russian troops continue to repel the attempts of the Ukrainian offensive, do not allow themselves to be moved in any of the directions, and, if possible, counterattack themselves. Our units are particularly active in the Marinka area. Most of the village has already been liberated, the enemy holds only the private sector. But the fighters of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are preparing to knock him out from there. Correspondents of Izvestia visited the positions of the Assault detachment of the 33rd Motorized Rifle Regiment of the 20th Motorized Rifle Division and learned how assault groups are being prepared and why FPV attack drones have become the most important tool in their attacks on enemy positions.
The Art of Assault
— One fighter always goes with an anti-drone gun, and when a "bird" is detected, he begins to suppress it. Either it slows it down, and the rest finish it off with small arms," one of the stormtroopers tells us.
He has a collimator sight installed on his machine gun — not only for shooting in close combat offhand, but also for firing at drones.
We are at the training ground where the fighters of the Assault squad conduct training sessions. Their preparation does not stop for a minute — all actions are worked out thoroughly, to automatism. After all, the assault on the Ukrainian positions itself takes no more than ten minutes, and it is necessary to act in this segment with impeccable accuracy.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Alexey Ramm
Image source: iz.ru
All the fighters are wearing light body armor, which experts call Plate Carrier. But in Russia, such personal protective equipment is called the Russified term "plitonoska" or simply "plitnik". Such vests have a reduced area of anti—shatter protection - they cover only vital organs with armor plates: lungs and heart. But they do not restrict movement. Some military personnel add light protection of the abdomen and groin to their "plates".
According to our interlocutors, ammunition and everything necessary is placed in pouches on the body armor itself. This is how maximum mobility is achieved, open shoulders do not interfere with working with weapons. The fighters of the assault groups are preparing for close combat in the enemy's fortifications, where any few seconds can be decisive.
— We are not overloaded too much. There are now seven magazines on my vest, a first aid kit, two grenades. This is the minimum set. Plus an unloading belt and a backpack. There is water, food and additional ammunition in it — after a successful assault, it is necessary to gain a foothold and hold positions until the reserve approaches," says one of the stormtroopers, demonstrating his equipment.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Alexey Ramm
Image source: iz.ru
Critical body kit
Depending on the tasks, some of the fighters have silencers, sights and additional equipment installed on the machine guns. Some, on the contrary, do not weigh down the weapon, keeping it as light and short as possible — to overcome turns in cramped spaces of houses and trenches.
For a successful assault, according to experienced soldiers, good preparation and planning are needed. The enemy must be suppressed by fire, the most important firing points must be identified and destroyed in advance and exhausted in the process of preparation.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Alexey Ramm
Image source: iz.ru
Many targets are inaccessible or well protected from classical weapons of destruction. Therefore, in addition to reconnaissance UAVs in the assault squad, they also master working with FPV drones. Among other things, such a calculation can provide quick support to assault groups, for which it is located in close proximity to them.
— Always ready. When help is needed, we immediately raise the strike bird and are ready to hit the target," says the operator of the kamikaze drone.
The calculation of the UAV of two people shows us the preparation for departure. The operator puts on glasses — such UAVs, heirs of sports models, work using the "first-person view" technology and are controlled manually, without the support of internal systems.
— All stabilizers are completely disabled, any action I do, he repeats. The slightest movement responds. Turns, tilt — everything is controlled by the operator," says the "pilot" of the strike drone with the call sign Mir.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Alexey Ramm
Image source: iz.ru
Wearing glasses, he completely loses his view and sees everything only "from the face" of the drone. Therefore, as soon as the UAV itself is ready to start, the second number takes a position next to it.
— I observe what is happening in the situation. The operator may have some problems that he voices to me: to correct something, for example. Because in flight he can't do anything with his surroundings," says a fighter with the call sign Cat.
There are three people working in the combat group: the first and second pilots and an engineer. The latter provides the connection of ammunition and engineering reconnaissance for the take-off site.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Alexey Ramm
Image source: iz.ru
Today, when the failure of the Ukrainian summer counteroffensive began to be recognized even in the English-language press, one of the reasons is the massive saturation of UAV troops of all types and their widespread use. The troops are constantly mastering new methods of warfare and new equipment, and the experience of individual sections is rapidly spreading throughout the army. This came as a surprise not only to Western military experts, but also to the enemy.
Dmitry Astrakhan
Alexey Ramm
