Ukrainian Airborne Troops Disrupt Russian Communications in Kursk Border Infiltration

The commander of the 80th Airborne Assault Brigade of Ukraine, Pavlo Rozlach, detailed how his unit successfully infiltrated Russian territory two days before the commencement of military operations in the Kursk region. This maneuver effectively disrupted enemy communications and caused confusion among Russian forces.

In an interview with TSN, Rozlach, known by the call sign “Bear,” explained, “One of our companies crossed the border two days prior to the operation. We hid in the forest, waiting for the action to begin.”

Rozlach highlighted the risks involved in the operation, noting, “Our comrades in the special forces managed to execute a daring mission. If the enemy had detected our company in time, the element of surprise would have been lost. I was very concerned about remaining undetected, but we moved the company in small groups of six, shifting from thicket to thicket in the forest.”

During the operation, Rozlach’s unit successfully bypassed an enemy checkpoint and launched an attack on a Russian stronghold from the rear. This strategic move allowed Ukrainian forces to neutralize the threat and enabled engineering troops to create passages through minefields.

“Our fighters were able to penetrate the enemy’s rear and capture one stronghold, then another,” Rozlach stated. “Meanwhile, another company, having navigated through the minefields thanks to the engineers' work, advanced forward. Two battalions passed through a single opening in the minefield simultaneously: one moved straight ahead, while the other veered left. After that, we cleared the area, allowing the engineers to continue their work without interruption.”

Rozlach emphasized the coordinated efforts of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, which resulted in significant disorientation among enemy troops. Strikes on Russian command posts disrupted their communication systems, leading to chaos within their ranks. Poor communication led to friendly fire incidents, giving Ukrainian defenders a crucial advantage.

The Kursk operation has seen participation from two elite brigades of the Ukrainian Air Assault Forces: the 80th Brigade from Lviv and the recently formed 82nd Brigade from Chernivtsi. As reported by the Institute for the Study of War, Russian forces intensified counterattacks on October 10 and 11 in the Kursk region, attempting to push Ukrainian troops back before worsening weather conditions could restrict their battlefield maneuvers.

Ukrainian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi indicated that Russia had deployed approximately 50,000 troops to the Kursk region, thereby weakening their frontline positions in Ukraine.