This GoPro footage provided by the 3rd Assault Brigade depicts intense trench fighting which purportedly ends the opposing battalion of the 57th Motorized Rifles as an effective fighting force. Because it contains casualties, viewer discretion is advised.

Footage begins with intense close-range fire and explosions in the trench. An extremely close detonation rocks the cameraman at 0:07 seconds. It should be noted that the translation, while helpful, isn't accurate in all cases. For instance, at 0:13, "The Third is B" is probably a reference to the "the Third Battalion." They are standing over what appears to be a Russian KIA. The footage cuts back to an intense exchange of gunfire, and at 0:37, the cameraman fires a grenade, which is seen to burst on a tree over the Russian position.

At 0:57, a Ukrainian soldier goes down, wounded, but the extent of his injuries isn't clarified. There appears to be concern for his eyesight, but the "only the body" remark seems to suggest his eyes are fine. At 01:38, the cameraman ducks as someone calls out "grenade!"

The cameraman tosses a grenade to his squadmate at 03:23- the tossed grenade assist is a teamwork feature we've seen in other footage of the 3AB. A Ukrainian can be heard urging an enemy to surrender, and the grenade is likely Option B. At 04:37, the Ukrainian soldiers fire on a Russian at close range in an adjoining trench, but it isn't clear if he was already killed by the grenade thrown, or was merely disoriented by it. The effect is repaid at 04: 46 when an explosion knocks the cameraman and squadmate to the ground. While the cameraman gets up, the fate of his friend is uncertain.

The footage reverts to a longer look at the first KIA shown earlier. At 05:30, the Ukrainians are shown giving aid to a wounded soldier, apparently a captured Russian. They go to ground at 05:58, amid another explosion. The Ukrainians appear to be reading him his rights at 06:17. He is advised that he "won't get a ticket to the fucking" which is an objectively hilarious way to promise no ill treatment. As a historical side note, the Ukrainian soldier to the right is wearing a patch based on Blackbeard's flag of piracy.

About the Author

Cole Simms

Cole Simms is an Air Guardsman, NASA enthusiast, police officer, and security contractor with particular experience in austere environments. Outside of work, he volunteers as a Stop The Bleed instructor for area schools. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Homeland Security and Emergency Management, and blends his knowledge and experience to write analysis for Funker530.