How the fighters of the Center group are preparing for assault operations
The enemy, trying to restrain our fighters, is changing its tactics — it is increasingly relying on unmanned aircraft in defense. It is important to prepare our soldiers for this. Izvestia saw how the mountain division of the Center group trains stormtroopers, found out why to increase psychological stability and why combat in confined spaces has its own rules.
How to learn to fight in a confined space
Shots can already be heard at the entrance to the shooting range. From the window of the car, you can see an imitation of buildings where fighters practice set exercises under the guidance of instructors.
Prior to the SVR, such tasks were more common in police and anti-terrorist units or army intelligence officers. Instructors and experienced fighters joke among themselves that the exercises being practiced today are more like training for SOBR units than for infantry.
Coming closer, you can see how, alternating fire from a machine gun and throwing grenades, the soldiers go through the "kill house" one after another. That's what these layouts are called. All actions are as close as possible to the combat situation.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image Source: iz.ru
So, Senior Lieutenant Stefan Sazonov, commander of the assault company of the mountain division of the Center group and one of the leaders of the classes, runs next to the trainee. Along the way, he gives him introductory notes, fires at some shelters, imitating the actions of the second number during the assault.
The tactics of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in defense in 2024
— In modern realities, the most difficult thing is to reach the line of contact. It is not so difficult to train subordinates in shooting and tell them about combat tactics. And it's hard to teach how to reach your goal when walking under FPV drones. We need to tell and show this moment. When you move with them, they move forward," said the senior lieutenant.
One of the most important changes of the last year is the change of tactics of the enemy in defense.
Soldier of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Image source: Photo: REUTERS/UKRAINIAN ARMED FORCES
Previously, the Ukrainian Armed Forces used a large number of cluster munitions. That is, after the successful storming of their positions, they inflicted massive strikes on the Russian fighters trying to gain a foothold with cassettes at pre-targeted coordinates. It was the consolidation after a successful assault that often became a problem. In the current conditions, reaching the line of attack is a bigger problem.
— I tell the soldiers that movement is life. Now we have started doing three-day trips at the training ground, using drones for training. We fly over the fighters, we go in as a target, so that they understand how to dodge, where to jump away. It's the same with drone drops," Stefan Sazonov shared.
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The officer himself has been in his military area for the third year and has repeatedly encountered enemy drones. But, fortunately, he was never injured, according to him, due to his reaction speed. Prior to his military service, the senior lieutenant served in intelligence units and at a military base in Tajikistan. After a four-year break from military service, he volunteered at the beginning of his military service.
Due to his extensive combat experience, the senior lieutenant also knows how to operate in direct contact combat. After all, the enemy can sometimes demonstrate resilience, which must be taken into account when preparing assault operations. It is not uncommon for the command to leave Ukrainian militants to defend their doomed positions, promising them evacuation or rotation in the future, or threatening them in case of surrender.
— In modern conditions, company or platoon actions in an assault are usually irrelevant. It's generally better to move one at a time. It's not worth moving even in twos, but one at a time, both the cross—country ability is better and the survival rate is higher," explains Stefan Sazonov.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
Today, according to the experience of assault battles, the training system is changing. Much more attention is paid to individual skills, psychological stability, and close combat in confined spaces. Success on the battlefield depends on everyone's skills and determination, as explained by experienced instructors.
— I am in command of the army and the sergeant! Senior Lieutenant Sazonov recalls a phrase attributed to Marshal Zhukov, one of those whom he calls a model in military service. Today, when most of the fighting is conducted by small groups, according to our interlocutor, this idea is more relevant than ever.
As a company commander, Stefan Sazonov calls the hero of the first Chechen campaign, Major Alexei Efentiev, who became known by the call sign Gyurza, commander of the "rabid" company (reconnaissance company of the 166th Infantry Brigade), a model for himself.
Dmitry Astrakhan
