Ukrainian Commanders Personally Storm Building, Capture Russian Infiltrators in Lyman

Ukrainian forces detained a team of Russian infiltrators during a clearance operation in the town of Lyman, Donetsk region, according to a report published by 63rd Separate Mechanised Brigade on January 23.

The operation was initiated by three officers from the 3rd Mechanised Battalion of the 63rd Brigade—its commander, deputy chief of staff, and a platoon leader. After receiving intelligence about the presence of Russian troops inside the town, the officers decided to act without delay.

The group, operating under the callsigns “Granat,” “Fifteen,” and “Orel,” launched a targeted assault on a building where three Russian soldiers had taken position in a basement. The Russian personnel had established a temporary outpost equipped with an external antenna to maintain communication with their command.

According to the report, the Russian team carried four magazines of ammunition per person, thermobaric grenades, thermal cloaks, power banks, radios, and limited food supplies. These infiltration groups are typically supported by reconnaissance drones and later resupplied via unmanned aerial vehicles.

The presumed objective was to hold the position long enough—potentially a full day—until reinforcements could arrive, allowing them to establish a foothold and expand operations in the area.

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The Ukrainian assault was coordinated with aerial reconnaissance support. Following a brief firefight, the Russian soldiers surrendered.

“In our sector, we have developed effective countermeasures against enemy infiltration. Regular patrolling and fast-response sweep teams are producing results,” the brigade said in a statement.

Among those captured was a Russian soldier who reportedly signed a military contract in 2023 after serving a prison sentence. Ukrainian authorities said he may have sought to erase his criminal record by participating in the war.

Earlier, Ukraine’s Security Service released a video showing the interrogation of Russian soldier Sergey Skobelev, who confessed to executing nine Ukrainian POWs in the Kursk region in October 2024. According to the SBU, Skobelev initially denied involvement but later admitted to the killings, carried out under orders from his commander.

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