Ukrainian special forces carried out a lethal revenge attack on Russian paratroopers, accused of committing war crimes. The daring operation took place deep inside Russia in the southwest city of Stavropol, home to the military base of the 247th Guards Air Assault Regiment.
The paratroopers have been involved in active combat duties in Ukraine since 2014 and played a key role in the full-scale invasion of February 2022. The airborne unit is considered a key element of Russia’s rapid deployment forces and was previously deployed to Ukraine’s eastern regions, including the Donbas. However, it has been accused of committing numerous war crimes following the launch of Putin’s full-scale invasion.
Ukraine’s military intelligence (GUR) said its forces acting alongside fighters from the so-called Caucasus Liberation Movement planted a bomb near the barracks, located in the city centre.
The GUR claimed that at least three Russian soldiers died in the explosion and later shared a video of the attack to social media channels. A loud explosion can be heard which sets off car alarms, before a plume of grey smoke can be seen rising from the scene.
Pro-Kremlin media channels claimed the bomb was hidden in a pram and had gone off near a bus stop, seriously injuring a woman.
The allegations were dismissed by the GUR who issued a statement to their Telegram channel.
“On October 22, 2025, as a result of a successful operation by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine with the support of the Caucasus Liberation Movement forces, at least three servicemen of the 247th Caucasian Cossack Regiment of the Airborne Forces of the Russian Federation were eliminated.
“The loud event took place near the checkpoint of military unit No. 54801 in the very centre of the city of Stavropol (Serova St., 533).”
The Ukrainian agency said the Russian paratroopers had “distinguished” themselves by committing numerous war crimes.
They said the attack was part of a campaign to punish all Russian units responsible for deliberately killing Ukrainian citizens.
“The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine reminds ― for every war crime committed against the Ukrainian people, there will be just retribution,” they said.
The Caucasus Liberation Movement has been previously linked to opposition activity inside Russia’s southern regions, but little is known about its size or structure.