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In 2023, the first battalion of former Ukrainian servicemen entered the Russian army. The first reports of Ukrainian volunteers forming a new Russian unit came in February. The volunteer battalion named after Bogdan Khmelnitsky was created in the DPR. In the end of October, the battalion named after Bogdan Khmelnitsky became part of the operational-combat tactical formation (OBTF) “Cascade”. In early November, the unit’s fighters took the oath of allegiance to Russia. LINK, LINK, LINK, LINK
Today, the unit is fighting against the Ukrainian military on the battlefields. One of the soldiers gave an interview, commenting on one of the the first battles in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The fighters accepted the battles with dignity:
– We accepted the first battle with dignity. We did not back off. We went forward bald-headed. When we reached the position, we dug in there, and accepted the battle. The enemy’s “birdies” (drones) arrived after we had dug in. I had an anti-drone gun, I managed to land two “birdies,” but then mortar shelling began, they covered us with mines, shot with automatic grenade launchers. We no longer had the opportunity to “work” with our gun, and as a commander, I gave the order to retreat. We went to mop up the enemy’s positions. I gave the command to move back to replenish the ammunition and launch another attack.
During the retreat, a mine flew and exploded two meters away. I was wounded in my leg. I gave myself first aid, asked the guys if everyone was alive and well, the guys answered “yes” and we went back to the boundaries.
The mine passed merely touching. It was the Polish mine “Sixtieth”. It tore my soft tissues and severed an artery in my right leg, just above the knee. The fragments went to the side. There was only a lacerated wound.
I went into position, moped it up, but had to go back. There were no barrier squads.
– The command sent your group alone?
– No, we were secured from the flanks on the right and left. Our guys gained a foothold. Then, rotation came and we were changed. We returned to our position.
– Now, we are on combat duty.
– The rotation was carried out by the “Cascade” battalion.
