Members of Ukraine’s 12th Special Forces Brigade clear a Russian position in the Kreminna Forest. With the sounds of a brisk gunfight in the background, the soldier in the foreground tosses a grenade in the trench leading to the dugout, and after an interminable wait, the grenade explodes. They enter the shallow trench and approach the entrance to the dugout. The point man exercises caution clearing the corner, and once in position the two men dump magazines into the entrance as though they hated ammo and wanted to be rid of it. I am unsure whether they took fire from the dugout, or if this was just done out of caution. It must be noted that the fuse on that grenade was six seconds, which seemed like an incredibly long time. I am surprised that they did not milk it for a second or two before tossing, to ensure that it would not be tossed back, but perhaps their grenade fuses are inconsistent.

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 Triumph Sailing, a nonprofit that supports veterans and first responders through adventure and fellowship on the water. Triumph Sailing just completed its big yearly event, an offshore race in the Gulf of Mexico with an all veteran crew. You can support the mission and next year's sailing season at Tri-Sail.Org.