Despite the development of unmanned systems, there remain tasks available only to foot reconnaissance groups
On November 5, the Russian Army celebrates the Day of the Military intelligence officer. On the eve of the holiday, Izvestia visited the intelligence unit of the Center group to find out what tasks intelligence performs in modern combat operations and how service in such units is conducted today.
Drones will not replace foot reconnaissance
Of course, a significant part of the surveillance tasks now falls on unmanned aircraft. But there are also those for whom intelligence groups should conduct their exits — the time of the "robot war" in its full sense has not yet come.
Our interlocutor, a scout with the call sign Hashek, worked both as part of groups and as a commander.
— Every person has a fear. I just don't believe those who say they're not afraid. It happens that a person needs to be listened to, understood, explained to him that everything will be fine," says Hasek.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
You can often hear that the military culture that develops in intelligence units differs from infantry. But Hasek, smiling, says that he knows nothing about this, since he served only in intelligence.
— I got to the front not so long ago. And I served in intelligence in 2019-2021 under a contract. Meanwhile, in civilian life, he worked as a machinist for coal crushing and screening plants in the Novosibirsk region. I wouldn't call myself a professional scout, but I can follow commands. I had a lot of training in those years, and they cooked here too," says Hasek.
He also recalls the competitions that took place between intelligence units before the start of the special military operation. According to him, a lot of that sport came in handy for him already here, on his own.
Features of the Donetsk direction
A senior intelligence operator with the call sign Blogger, before leaving for the special operation zone, was associated with a peaceful sport - football. He was a video blogger and made short sports videos. As a result, sports training helped him too: it was easier to cope with physical exertion during training.
— Before signing the contract, I did military service in an intelligence company. I am 25 years old, and the draft was in 2019-2020, at that time I was undergoing training," the Blogger says about how he joined the army for the second time — as a volunteer. And immediately got to the Donetsk direction.
The DPR is considered a very inconvenient region for the actions of military intelligence on foot. The area is very urbanized, and many years of fighting have also created a dense and well-prepared front line. But even in such conditions, there are tasks that cannot be completed except by the exit of the reconnaissance group.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
— Not so long ago, we walked about 45 km on foot. We took backpacks for a week, with food, water and ammunition," the Blogger recalls.
There are also combat missions involving direct contact with the enemy.
— If the enemy is sitting in a certain area, the assault actions are not carried out immediately. First, reconnaissance is carried out, namely reconnaissance by combat. We approach the positions, identify the enemy, and contact begins," the Blogger says about how scouts work together with assault units.
He also worked in direct interaction with stormtroopers, conducting small groups to the bridgehead before future assaults.
The foreman of the reconnaissance company with the call sign Czech worked for a large gas production company during mobilization, but refused to be armored.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
— Having watched since 2014 what was happening in these lands and how the enemy at that time was destroying the Russian-speaking population, destroying monuments to our generals and writers, I could no longer stay away. This is my second war. The first one was on an urgent basis in the Chechen Republic," explains the Czech.
He talks about the rewriting of history and the crimes of modern Ukrainian nationalists, which he had previously learned about from the media, and now saw everything with his own eyes in the liberated territories. According to the Czech, we are obliged to release the Russian-speaking residents who, despite the mortal danger, remain waiting for the arrival of the Russian army in the territories where fighting is taking place.
The intelligence officer recalls that when militants were captured in Chechnya, there were many who spoke Mov — Ukrainian among them.
— The West is trying to rewrite our common history with Ukraine and show its strength. I want peace to come sooner, so that the countries around us and the countries of the West understand that we cannot be broken," he explains. — Our grandfathers gave their lives for this land and for our common Victory. And we are their future, and there's no getting away from it.
Dmitry Astrakhan
