Ukrainian special forces have successfully carried out a daring operation deep behind Russian lines. The aim was to try and stop Russian soldiers reaching a bridgehead on the western bank of the Oskil River near the city of Kupiansk.
Russia’s control of the town of Dvorichna allows them to accumulate and deploy forces across the river to the bridgehead. Their plan is to exploit their footing on the west bank to outflank Ukrainian units in Kupiansk from the north, while also using it as a launch pad to link up with the Kharkiv offensive.
The Dvorichna bridgehead will be a key staging ground for Russia’s summer offensive in the Kharkiv region and Ukraine understands it must act quickly to eliminate the danger.
Because Russian troops have to cross the river, they cannot deploy large numbers of heavy weapons such as anti-tank guided missiles or MANPADS.
MANPADS are surface-to-air missiles that can be fired by an individual against aircraft.
The lack of adequate air defences makes the Russian bridgehead extremely vulnerable to potential Ukrainian air attacks.
To lay the groundwork for future attacks on the bridgehead, Ukraine’s special forces flew deep behind Russian lines using American UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
Once on the ground, they launched a series of highly effective and deadly raids against Russian units.
They cleared forest belts and residential areas of Putin’s soldiers who had been preparing to cross the river.
This was the first time that Kyiv’s special forces had conducted an air assault operation in over three years.
It has enabled them to gather critical intelligence as well as weaken Russian assault units preparing for the summer offensive.
Although the special forces successfully evacuated the area following their attacks, it is highly likely they left behind some men.
According to special forces doctrine, these soldiers will be able to gather intelligence, set up and train further resistance networks, and conduct a deadly guerrilla warfare with sabotage and liquidations of top Russian commanders.
In the last few days, Ukraine’s army has launched stunning attacks on Russian airbases and attempted to blow up the Crimean Bridge in another audacious operation.
