Underground "cities" were used to provide troops
The constant improvement of attack and reconnaissance UAVs has made the delivery of goods to the front line a particularly dangerous occupation. One of the new solutions to the problem was the organization of underground "storage points" in the front line by our logistics services. They hide supplies of clothing and food from the enemy, have sleeping places for soldiers leaving the front line, and workshops. Izvestia learned from the 87th Rifle Regiment of the 51st Donetsk Army what a "storage device" is, how it works, and how goods are delivered to the LBS.
How supplies are delivered to the front line
We are moving to one of the recently liberated cities of the DPR under the cover of bad weather. Gusty winds and fog in themselves are not a hindrance to UAVs, but it is snowing wet, and the weather is considered favorable, and the road is busy even during the day. New armored trucks are being mixed in both directions, as well as upgraded factory and homemade additional protection kits with drone nets. But the main movement is created by all types of SUVs: from minibuses "loaves" to buggies of all possible designs and models. For the vast majority of those passing by, the free surfaces are covered with electronic warfare antennas. And almost all of them have one or two shooters sitting in the bodies or hatches cut into the roofs, which are already covered with wet snow mixed with mud in the first minutes of the road. We drive through the battle-ravaged city to the 87th Regiment's storage facility, immediately hide the cars and go underground.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
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— The drive is made in order to deliver the necessary items to the fighter in the shortest possible time when the feed shoulder is increased. Everything is provided for here, everything is prepared. 10-15 km is a normal distance today to be able to deliver. Previously, there were no such points, because the front line was much closer to our points, and we could immediately supply what was needed from the rear. And now, when we are advancing, we are making such storage devices: clothing, food and others," explains the commander of the support platoon with the call sign Kaban.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
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He shows his "household", stocks of VKPO 2.0 uniforms, shoes, sleeping bags and other things. The Boar himself hails from Donetsk, has been in the army since the moment of mobilization in the DPR. He started his career as a driver. He is one of those who found both the "iron helmets" (Soviet steel helmets) and the "Donetsk pixel" (the uniform of the NM DNR before joining the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation). Therefore, when showing today's software, he does not even try to compare it with 2022. The comment is short: "two big differences." There is also a small fitting room in the warehouse, where you can change those who have left the front line before rotation or new tasks. Sleeping quarters have been made at the point to accommodate people during rotations, if necessary.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
At the food warehouse, it immediately catches the eye that the nomenclature has become much wider than before. All this is assembled and packed into transport bags, which can be quickly taken outside at the right moment and loaded onto a transport buggy or ATV. By the way, mass bags are also one of the novelties. Previously, they were always in short supply, and instead they were often replaced by the famous checkered bags used by shuttle traders in the 90s.
— To deliver food to the guys at the front, there is a tray group, a delivery group that delivers it on motorcycles or on foot to the fighters at the front line. These are the bags we collect," says the Boar and shows it. They contain bread, water, various canned goods, condensed milk, several types of sweets, cigarettes, crackers packed in plastic bottles to protect against water and mice, and much more. Moreover, according to Kaban, the menu can be selected within certain limits. He tries to take into account the wishes of specific departments, so there is no standard configuration — everyone receives their own orders.
Robots to help
A robotic tracked platform is being sent to places where motorcycles or ATVs cannot travel. In the room for minor repairs of equipment at the storage point, we see the robot "Sturm 1M". They deliver goods and take out the wounded in any conditions.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
— This is not our first product. Already the second dozen such platforms have been made in various designs: miners, trawls for mine clearance, transport. This and similar tanks not only overcome heavy black soil, but can also swim. One platform together with a trailer pulls up to 400 kg, and it can also carry this weight by swimming," says Khitry, one of the authors of the product.
The control can be carried out at a distance of up to 10 km — of course, in this case it is necessary to deploy a repeater. And although the platforms are most often accompanied by UAVs that monitor their operation from the air, the robot itself also has a camera and can operate autonomously. Unmanned platforms not only deliver ammunition and provisions, but also evacuate the wounded, saving not only the lives of soldiers, but also evacuation groups.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image Source: iz.ru
— In October 2023, at the Avdiivka industrial zone, we provided the Veterans unit with ammunition. The distance was 500 m, but this space was actively shot through with all kinds of weapons, plus the birds were working. There were two direct hits to our platforms, but the equipment passed and completed its tasks," says Khitry about one of the episodes of the battles. In one operation, the robots transported more than a ton of ammunition, food, and other necessities to the advance troops. According to Khitry, dozens of soldiers could have died during the delivery of such a volume of goods.
Robotic platforms are constantly being improved based on application experience. One of the differences of such a front-end design is the rapid implementation of experience. For example, the Sturm platform has a very soft suspension with high cross-country ability, and during evacuation, the wounded do not receive additional injuries when moving.
Photo: IZVESTIA/Dmitry Astrakhan
Image source: iz.ru
— In one day, there may be combat missions, and work with a grinder or welding machine — to tighten, tint, tinge, or adjust the electrics. When the front is moving, we move forward to help our guys, we go after them," says a technician with the call sign Motyl about his work.
Today, everything from new modes of transport to the organization of such protected storage points, as we were shown in the 87th regiment, is subordinated to the goal of increasing protection from the threat from the air.
Dmitry Astrakhan
