Jan. 19, 2025, 1:56 p.m.
(PHOTO: 79th separate airborne assault brigade)
In the Novopavlivka sector, soldiers of the 79th separate airborne assault brigade of the Tauride Brigade of Mykolaiv completed the task, capturing seven Russian servicemen. The operation was supported by reconnaissance drones, which provided an advantage to the Ukrainian soldiers. An enemy dugout was hit by a grenade, forcing the Russian soldiers to come out and surrender.
This was reported by the press service of the 79th separate airborne assault brigade of the Tauride Brigade.
The special operation began with a series of FPV drone attacks that forced the occupiers to hide. The drones dropped ammunition, which made it impossible for them to conduct combat operations, said a scout from the 79th Air Assault Brigade with the call sign "Solodkyi".
"We had a task to clear the forest belt. We kept them under pressure to keep their heads down. They covered themselves with bags and barricaded themselves in a dugout. I started shouting at them: "Come out, surrender, otherwise I will blow up the entire dugout!" the serviceman recalled.
The chief sergeant of the reconnaissance platoon with the call sign "Razor" noted that at first the paratroopers tried to contact the enemy to avoid direct combat and try to force them to surrender. However, when the Russian soldiers refused, our fighters used grenades, forcing the enemy to leave their positions.
The prisoners said they did not immediately realize who was storming their position. Only after a grenade was thrown did they surrender, admitting that the choice between life and death was obvious.
The soldiers came out unarmed, in a line, with a distance for safety. Their weapons were minimal: a few assault rifles and backpacks.
Drones recorded the moment when the prisoners left the dugout. Some of them even thanked the paratroopers for the opportunity to stay alive.
After the operation, the prisoners of war were taken to the rear, where they received medical care. The chief sergeant emphasized the importance of this operation, as it was not only a tactical success, but also replenished the exchange fund.
Earlier, during one of the combat operations, two paratroopers of the 79th Separate Air Assault Tavriya Brigade captured 14 Russian soldiers. Prior to the attack, they had been working carefully on enemy positions for several days, using drones and FPV devices. For this, both soldiers have been nominated for state awards.
On Wednesday, January 15, another prisoner exchange with Russia took place, as a result of which 25 Ukrainian citizens returned home. Among those released are military personnel and civilians who defended Mariupol, Azovstal, as well as Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions. Many of the liberated heroes have serious injuries or serious illnesses, which indicates the harsh conditions of detention in Russian captivity.
Анна Бальчінос