The soldiers understood that they needed to stand — the guard about the defense of Volnovakha
The Volnovsky direction was attacked before the start of a full-scale invasion. How Ukrainian defenders stopped the breakthrough of Russian forces in Donetsk region tells the officer of the National Guard of Ukraine Roman.
A week before the massive attacks, Russian troops tried to break into the Volnovsky direction. They were held back by the forces of the 53rd Brigade of the Armed Forces. On February 24, already when a full-scale invasion began, the Russian army hit Vuhledar with two cruise missiles. After that, residents of the city and nearby settlements began to be evacuated.
“After the first arrivals, we collected all personnel, ammunition and belongings. Having received combat tasks, we took positions, united with the forces of the Armed Forces and continued to repel the attacks of the Russians in the direction of Vuhledar and Maryinka. In early March, they were ordered to defend Volnovakha. The personnel of the NGU was reinforced by newly arrived fighters and the line of our defense expanded,” says soldier Roman.
During the three months of rotation, the guards performed tasks of protection and defense of settlements in Donetsk region
“For many fighters, this rotation was the first. But, despite the lack of combat experience, they showed themselves from the best side — everyone understood that the situation was difficult, so they pulled themselves together and performed the task with dignity,” the guard notes.
During joint combat missions, two Russian tankers were captured near one of the settlements. Of a large column of more than 300 units of equipment, among which there were about 70 tanks, only they remained alive. Ukrainian “gods of war” destroyed almost all equipment, stopping the breakthrough of Russian forces in Donetsk region. The captured Russians explained their presence according to the prepared scenario: they did not know where they were going, they did not “enter” the battle with the Ukrainian military.
Roman was the commander of a consolidated platoon of fighters of the National Guard of Ukraine, which performed tasks in Volnovakha.
“We had a dedicated area of defense. We occupied the street and our task was to prevent the advance of enemy forces. We were there for two days — first we were tightly covered with “art”, and then street fighting began. We were given the command to move away because the city was already almost surrounded. At this time, the Russians monitored the movement of personnel with the help of UAVs and carried out shelling from Grad rocket systems of salvo fire. With the armored KRAZ, we were able to evacuate people to a safe place,” Roman says.
The Russians were unable to advance deep into the area — the artillerymen very quickly pushed them back.
“All decisions were aimed at winning. The soldiers understood that they had to stand to prevent the enemy forces from breaking through. By joint efforts, coordinated actions with the Armed Forces, we were able to repel the Russians. Because we have only one way out - only victory,” the officer is sure.
Press service of the NGU
