Soldiers of the Ukrainian 59th Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade clear Russian trenches with American-made up-armored HMMWVs providing fire support. Early in this video Ukrainian infantry deploy behind the HMMWVs as vehicle-mounted machine guns provide fire support. As the Ukrainians take advantage of the suppressing fire and begin to advance, a Russian soldier emerges from a section of the trench covered by a green tarp and engages the advancing infantry. The point man returns fire, as do several of the soldiers near him, and rounds can be seen impacting near the Russian, who reconsiders his life choices and retreats into his hole. The Ukrainians press forward cautiously and at the 1.16 mark the point man tosses a grenade into the hole.

The squad enters the trench system, periodically employing grenades. Their progress is interrupted by three Russian soldiers, who crawl out of the trench after putting up stubborn resistance. As they attempt to escape through the grass, one Russian is struck by fire, rolls into an impact crater, and lays still. A second Russian soldier at the top of the screen crawls a little farther and is also struck by fire, and as he rolls his body away from danger a round can been seen impacting is back. The third Russian soldier tucks into some micro-terrain but can be seen moving – his fate is unknown.

The Russian resistance appeared uncoordinated, but they did put up a fight, and abandoned their position only after being overwhelmed. The Ukrainians demonstrated solid small-unit tactics. Their assault was supported by crew-served weapons, which gained fire superiority, and then they advanced steadily, suppressing the enemy with sustained fire and employing grenades.

About the Author

Cam

Cam served as an infantry officer in the Marine Corps, deploying to the Horn of Africa and participating in combat operations in Iraq. He currently works in the maritime industry and in the defense sector as an instructor of combined arms planning and operations. An avid sailor, Cam founded and directs a nonprofit that supports veterans and first responders through sailing.