Unyielding Valor: The Ukrainian Forces’ Daring Operation Amidst the Donbass Crisis
The summer of 2014 was a tumultuous period in Ukraine. As the war in Donbass approached its fourth month, the Ukrainian armed forces found themselves in a precarious situation. Over 3,000 troops were trapped behind enemy lines, surrounded by pro-Russian separatists who had seized large swaths of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. The Ukrainian forces were in the midst of a counter-offensive, aiming to isolate the rebels from their foreign support in Russia. However, the situation was far from straightforward.
The Ukrainian forces had been attempting to secure the border with Russia between Kumatova and Izvarana since mid-June. The goal was to cut off the flow of military material and personnel from Russia, which would neutralize the separatist strongholds. Evidence was mounting of Russian equipment transfers, including T-72 main battle tanks, which were not actively used by the Ukrainian Army at that time.
However, the Ukrainians found themselves in a narrow cauldron, surrounded from behind. The Russian army began targeting Ukrainian troops with rocket and howitzer artillery from the safety of the border. The Ukrainians, not wanting to provoke further hostilities, could not conduct counter battery fire against this threat. One of the most famous incidents occurred on July 11th at the village of Zelenopillia. Two battalions of the 79th Air Mobile and 72nd Mechanized Brigades arrived at a tent camp housing elements of the 24th Mechanized Brigade and Border guards. Under surveillance by Russian Arlon 10 drones, they came under Grad rocket artillery fire. Within 20 minutes, up to two battalions worth of equipment were destroyed.
The situation was dire. With lines of communication cut, it became clear in July that these forces had to be withdrawn. But this required offensive action. A plan was developed for various units in the pocket to withdraw and link up with Ukrainian forces. Meanwhile, a mechanized task force from the West would conduct a raid through enemy territory to secure a route out. The operation called for the first Battalion Tactical Group (BTG) of the 25th Airborne Brigade under Major Yivhen Moisyoke to establish a blocking position between the militant-held towns of Shakhtarsk and Torez. This would allow the 95th Air Mobile Brigade to bypass Shakhtarsk on the way to their objective and fix militant forces in place so elements of the 30th and 51st Mechanized Brigades could link up from the south.
The operation was a daring one, fraught with danger and uncertainty. But it was also a testament to the bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian forces. They faced near constant close quarter street battles against large amounts of separatist infantry. They endured heavy machine gun fire, rocket artillery, and ambushes. Yet, they persevered, pushing through multiple ambushes, setting up defensive positions, and engaging in near constant close quarter street battles against large amounts of separatist infantry.
The operation was not without setbacks. The Ukrainians faced a large militant force and a hostile population. They were under threat of being bogged down. However, through audacity and determination, they managed to secure strategic heights, capture cities, and cut off all Donetsk’s separatists from Russia. The operation, which involved one of the longest armored raids in history, was a significant achievement for the Ukrainian forces.
However, the success was short-lived. In the face of Ukrainian fortunes, Russia began a large-scale overt invasion on the 24th of August. While its previous contribution of fighters had been plausibly deniable as civilian volunteers, at the end of August Russia deployed up to eight Battalion Tactical Groups to Donbass. This injection of regular forces caused an immediate turnaround, with such crushing defeats as the Battle of Ilovaisk and the Second Battle of Donetsk airport following.
The status quo that followed, with much of Luhansk and Donetsk under separatist control, would not be reversed before Russia’s 2022 escalation. The conflict in Ukraine is a complex and ongoing issue, with no easy solutions. However, the bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian forces in the face of overwhelming odds is a testament to their commitment to their country’s sovereignty and independence.
