On November 21, Ukraine celebrates the Day of the Airborne Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Since no one knows the heroism and training of paratroopers better than the paratroopers themselves, on the eve of the holiday, special correspondent for ICTV Vladimir Runets invited the commander of the Airborne Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Brigadier General Igor Skibyuk to the studio for a conversation.
What Igor Skibyuk said about the specifics of the work of Ukrainian paratroopers – read on ICTV Fakty.
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— Mr. Commander, today both Ukrainian officials and analysts from different countries are talking about an extremely difficult situation at the front. How would you describe it?
— That's right. The situation in certain areas is quite difficult. The enemy is developing its tactical success.
Frankly speaking, things are not easy at the front now. But we need to understand everything correctly, carry out professional analysis and not give in to emotions.
I joke that you need to take a ruler and measure the enemy's advance in hundreds of meters, in kilometers, to see that he has no operational results.
He (the enemy, — Ed.) is having a very difficult time, he has extremely large losses (everything there is littered with corpses).
To give up and complain — is not about us.
— The enemy has never managed to achieve such decisive results as, for example, the Ukrainian Defense Forces in Kursk. We have made a breakthrough of 30+ km, there is a stable operational effect there. The enemy does not have this.
You know, I don't want to have some kind of superficial, overly optimistic view. Heavy fighting is going on. But the enemy has not achieved any of his specific plans, a special victory.
And I think this difficult situation will continue.
Kurshchyna — is a unique case in general. We will talk about it in more detail.
I know that, in addition to the needs of the Ukrainian army for weapons, cartridges, various types of ammunition, there is also a need for people. How would you rate the training of recruits who are going to the front today?
— All kinds of people arrive. These are mostly adults with a well-established worldview who have realized themselves in life.
Most of them understand the need to carry out tasks to protect their homeland.
As for training, we managed to create and maintain a fairly high level of training in the airborne assault troops with the previous model (30 days). Now, when the term has been increased to 45 days, it will only get better. As per the law of philosophy, when quantity turns into quality.
We work to ensure that the level of training is sufficient, guaranteed, without any low-quality moments, taking into account the necessary war experience. So that the soldier receives specific practical knowledge.
I require certain tactical training sessions so that the soldier can practice the skills automatically. So that these skills are in his consciousness, and when a certain situation occurs, he has fast reactions.
We work so that our soldier has an advantage over the enemy (fire, tactical), has the skills of aggressive close combat necessary for an assault trooper and the skills of close combat necessary for an infantryman.
As a commander, I communicate with commanders and demand that combat operations for brigades take place with the use of modern strike fire weapons, mini-barriers, in order to maneuver forces, means to counter the enemy.
My responsibility is to ensure that the soldiers who undergo training with us are best prepared to carry out future combat missions. And we succeed in this.
—You confirm that motivation — one of the key moments in training a fighter. How do you manage to train fighters with different levels of motivation, because some went to the front voluntarily, some were called up?
— We work to build trust in commanders, in airborne assault troops. When there is trust, it affects motivation, and readiness to perform tasks, and situational awareness. Again, the quality of training affects the soldier's readiness to perform tasks.
We give him realistic and complete scenarios that occur on the battlefield. Therefore, he went through them during training, and on the battlefield he has already adapted.
It is clear that there is a seasoned soldier, an inexperienced one. And this must be done. But we give him all this necessary knowledge and skills so that he understands what awaits him, how to act correctly. It works.
Trust in the mission, trust in the commanders, pride in belonging to the airborne assault troops, understanding that he will be subordinated to the most effective and adequate command, units trained at a sufficient level. This is how it is achieved.
— The Russian-Ukrainian war changed a lot. It is unique in its essence, changing approaches to combat throughout the world. NATO is watching what is happening in Ukraine and drawing its own conclusions, changing the training of its combat units and subdivisions for effectiveness.
Currently, airborne assault troops do not have the ability to land behind enemy lines. What new approaches to using airborne assault troops are there in Ukraine today? How do they work?
— The conditions of this war have developed methods. We fight primarily as combined arms units, but at the same time we are used in the most important areas, where the enemy's main efforts are concentrated.
In all offensive operations of the Defense Forces of Ukraine, the strike component has always been the airborne assault troops, and they have achieved positive results.
Quite often, our military units and subdivisions work as reserves of the corresponding command, eliminating threats, turning the situation to their advantage.
Several of my brigades have already earned a reputation as fire brigades. And we know how to do it quite professionally.
We also manage to conduct deep operations, like Kharkov or Kursk.
— Finally, about the Kursk operation. We met in this studio in April, and you said then that it was important for Ukraine to restore constitutional order, restore the borders enshrined in the Constitution, and create a so-called buffer security zone. You already guessed then about the preparations for the Kursk operation, which began in August?
— I had no idea, I didn't know. It's simply conditioned by the logic of things.
-The Kursk operation — unique. I know that the main striking force was paratroopers. Perhaps you can tell us some details about the preparation of the operation?
— There's not much to share. You know, I don't really like these cliches — unique, super secret. First of all, it does not require such epithets.
The need for the operation was due to the general situation at the front. It was quite successful. The offensive phase and the current defensive phase.
We achieved significant results, breaking the enemy's defense. He was not weak there. There were certain questions, nuances…
We have accomplished many tactical tasks. This operation had and has the operational effect necessary for the Ukrainian Defense Forces.
For example, the enemy was forced to regroup its strike units, use certain operational reserves, create a group of troops of about 50 thousand.
We know that now it is forced to use the North Korean contingent. And the tasks, intentions, and deadlines that it determined have not yet been realized or have not been realized.
And the operation is developing in accordance with how it happens during war.
It was, so to speak, an interesting experience. And this experience, I think, will be applied in our future offensive operations.
— The Kursk operation was an obvious surprise for everyone. For the Americans, for the Russians themselves, for Ukrainian society. What factor determined its success?
— Certainly, planning, the process of preparation for this operation, provision, determination of the corresponding centers of attraction of the objects of the operation. The regime is quite strict and was successful in secrecy.
We managed to achieve operational tactical surprise. That is, much of what was planned was realized.
— The Kharkov operation was also discussed by the whole world. All experts analyzed, talked about the success of Ukraine. You took direct part in the Kharkov operation. If we compare what are the common and distinctive features of the Kursk and Kharkov operations?
— The Kharkov operation was deeper. It had two directions of attack, the task of encircling the enemy.
A deep raid by the 80th separate airborne assault brigade was used.
The 80th separate airborne assault brigade was deployed in a classic manner for using airborne assault troops.
In Kursk it was a little different due to the specifics of the terrain. I saw such terrain for the first time. And I think that in Ukraine, perhaps, there are not even such relief elements as in the Kursk region.
It was necessary to overcome the enemy's fortified line.
It was quite seriously equipped with engineering means, quite saturated with troops.
— That is, they were preparing?
— Yes. The assessments that there were no forces or means of defense there are not true.
There were full-fledged VOPs (special purpose departments, — Ed.), ROPs (strong points, — Ed.), good equipment and weapons with full garrisons.
Our assault groups, entering, very often worked one to one, or even in smaller numbers than the enemy, who was defending. And they successfully managed to complete their tasks.
For example, a unit of airborne assault brigades took 17 attack sites in the first two days. This is usually a typical platoon strongpoint with a garrison of a reinforced platoon. And the main thing was to enter, to get a foothold.
And then I already knew that if we got a foothold on this strongpoint, it would be cleared. That is, the breakthrough element of this strip differed from the Kharkov operation.
The actions that developed in the depths also had differences. The enemy countered more actively. Perhaps chaotically. He lacked control, coordination.
I do not want to disclose these military professional details, so that it is not clear who made a mistake where, who did what where. These were also difficult conditions. The terrain added to the difficulties.
It was quite difficult. And the enemy territory itself, to feel it…
— Actually, the Kharkov operation took place on Ukrainian soil. And this is abroad, another state. Perhaps there was a factor of the local population?
— No, the local population factor had almost no effect, because most of them left the combat zone.
Although we had radio intercept data or detained the local population, which provided information to the enemy about our movement.
In general, there was some otherness to the territory. Although there was nothing to be afraid of or to create a big problem out of it. But there was such a feeling of otherness.
— And what was this feeling of otherness??
— That's first. Then, when you get involved in the operation, a certain cycle of battles, duty, goes by, everything dulls.
The terrain is not like Kharkiv region, Sumy region, Donbass, and that greatly affects tactical actions.
We have reformatted certain methods of action, combat settings.
There are a lot of wooded ravines there, which affect maneuver capabilities. There are a lot of fields with agricultural crops, which must be taken into account, reconnaissance must be carried out before overcoming them.
The ravines are 8-10 m deep. The units had to overcome them and clear them for a very long time. This is a whole science, and certain experience, certain knowledge that we received, simply during the work there we did some specific short briefings, clarified the tasks.
— Indeed, military affairs — it is a whole science, like any other industry. Today, on the eve of the holiday, let's talk about positive changes. How would you characterize the Ukrainian army today? What exactly has changed over these several years of full-scale war and in general over more than 10 years of the Russian-Ukrainian war?
— The overwhelming majority has undoubtedly changed.
Some principles, rules of general military affairs, military service remain.
But there have been some external and internal changes. The methods of accomplishing tasks and training have changed. Even during this war, technologies have changed several times. What was important has faded into the background.
What never existed before has appeared. Strike weapons, drones, electronic warfare countermeasures. Completely new ways of working for commanders, new ways of communicating, situational awareness.
I believe that we are superior to the enemy. Logistics has changed. And these are mostly all positive changes.
Made by the hands of the military who work. There are many changes in psychology, motivation. And when someone says that we are some old “sovok” army, I'm offended because I don't feel that way.
On the contrary, I think that we are a fighting, good professional army, with the right principles and approaches.
It is necessary to work very hard in all directions, maintain certain controls, set goals that need to be achieved.
There are no easy ways, especially during a war.
— There is a popular phrase “NATO standards”, “to comply with NATO standards”. Ukraine has declared its ambitions to join the North Atlantic bloc. But doesn't it seem to you that now we are building some of our own Ukrainian standards? What stage are we at, and how completely different have these standards become now?
— There are certain NATO standards that we adhere to. They are codified, they are described.
There are even certain NATO documents translated and handed over to our leadership. Both the NATO commander and the Ukrainian commander have identical documents.
There are those that we have adapted, translated. There are those that have been formed. And it is the issue of standardization, the development of appropriate standard operating procedures — that is very important.
It helps to be faster, more efficient, more organized, to disseminate experience. And in the airborne assault troops this is very much cultivated.
We have developed standards for the work of headquarters at all levels, standards for preparation for certain types of operations, certain combat functions (for example, standards for electronic warfare, control, flank coverage, joints, preparation, support of a unit, the unit's exit to a combat operation). And this is very convenient.
That is, we achieve uniformity and guaranteed work of units or the readiness of units to perform tasks. And then all this is added to the tactical actions, the conditions of the operation.
Having such documents and procedures is extremely important and very painstaking work.
— Let's discuss ideological things. There is a Ukrainian army that is building its own standards and in many ways corresponds to NATO standards. There is a Russian army that came to Ukrainian soil. What are the ideological differences between the Ukrainian army and the aggressor army? What is the difference in their motivations?
— I take the aggressor as an enemy very seriously from a professional point of view.
But at the same time, I think it is incorrect to compare worldviews and mentalities. They are invaders, occupiers, orcs, murderers, military criminals, marauders. They are targets for me.
I don't see any comparisons here. The more and faster we destroy them, the better.
— If we're talking about morale, then I understand they have enough of it. This is what their commanders tell them: “Go, kill, steal washing machines!”
— Well, maybe not so, but I even find it very strange that even at the beginning of the war they behaved like that. Example of Bucha, other cities.
How can you be in the army, in such a disciplined structure, where there should be higher values, and behave like that? So they really are a wild horde of criminals, if a military man, being in military state service, can behave like that. I don't understand it.
— The state determined it for them like this: “Go!” Well, and, obviously, they believe in Putin's narratives.
— We are also fighting in harsh conditions. This is the destruction of enemies. But the Armed Forces of Ukraine have never, as they say, gone too far in matters of observing international humanitarian law, treating prisoners, helping the civilian population, and the like.
In Kursk region, the local population also received and continues to receive assistance. And our soldiers asked first of all what kind of assistance they needed, gave recommendations or created security conditions.
Not at all like them.
– I can say that humanity in the Ukrainian army is a key factor. When you come to the military, they will treat you to coffee, warm you up, protect you, and sometimes cover you with themselves. For you, too, the war, I think, has many different stories. Which one is the most sentimental for you personally?
– Unfortunately, emotional, strong stories and events are tinged with bitterness. This is when you lose someone or some problem arises.
Not everything can be told. But what made me happy, when I experienced positive emotions… This is when the brigade commander created a tactical combat control chat to conduct an operation.
I brought the commanders with whom we interacted into it, defined the rules of conduct in the chat. We communicated with them, carried out tasks. Then, when the operation ended, I thanked them. I informed them that we were eliminating the chat. And the guys with whom we interacted, the commanders, always very sincerely thanked the 80th Brigade for completing the tasks.
It was very nice and emotional.
– That is, while this chat still existed, they managed to send some messages? Maybe you remember some quotes?
– “80-ka, you're cool, you're great! You pulled this operation out on your own!” Something like that.
– If we go back to ideological things again. Today we are fighting for Ukraine. And everyone has their own image. What kind of Ukraine are you defending? What will it be like for you in 10 years, what do you think?
– Honestly, I can’t tell you what it will be like. I know that these next 10 years won’t be easy.
They will need to be passed with honor. And it will take a lot of work to ensure a bright future for our country, our people. Yes, we need to move towards this, strive, do our job.
– What kind of Ukraine would you like to see in 10 years? Besides being victorious and peaceful?
– Like Singapore, perhaps.
– What key values should prevail in Ukrainian society?
– The rule of law, respect for the veterans of this war. There should be sufficient economic growth, the possibility of a confident future for everyone, sufficient work, education.
And it is clear that all the democratic European values we strive for, a high level of the Armed Forces. So that our Defense Forces could confidently resolve issues of defense or repelling aggression, relying primarily on their own resources.
And we didn’t have to worry that we wouldn’t be able to do something or that we wouldn’t have enough of something.
Realization of all the potentials that our state has – scientific, technological, economic…
– The Friends of the Airborne Forces project, created by the joint efforts of the airborne assault troops and Starlight Media, has been going on for over four months now. How would you rate its results? How is it developing? What is it like through the eyes of the airborne troops? Will it continue??
– It will undoubtedly continue. Even if it stops functioning as a common media project, I would like this community of people who have already joined the Friends of the Airborne Forces to remain.
After all, many of them are loved ones, relatives, veterans, people who have been inspired by this idea and sincerely help us. And it will be important and proud for them to be considered a friend of DShV.
It is developing quite dynamically. Cups with our logos “are flying off” like hot cakes.
We have some financial support, which we use to purchase the high-tech equipment we need – strike or protective.
And the most important thing is that with the help of the project we can demonstrate the work and heroism of our soldiers, present the airborne assault troops to the people of Ukraine.
– I want to admit to you that it is a great honor for me personally to be a friend of the Airborne Assault Troops. I am grateful for the opportunity to join the team of Friends of the Airborne Assault Troops. And on the eve of the holiday, I want to congratulate you on the Day of the Airborne Assault Troops of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This is a truly great holiday.
Thank you for the work you do every day. I wish you perseverance, victory, plenty of time for rest and positive emotions with your families, work that does not involve as much stress as it does now. Perhaps you would like to congratulate your subordinates.
– November 21 is Airborne Assault Troops Day. I would like to congratulate the soldiers who heroically carry out their missions, the veterans who support us after their service.
As a commander, I would like to thank you for your courage, the work they do to protect our Motherland.
And thank you for today's interview. It was interesting to talk to you.
We remind you that you can support the Ukrainian military on the website of the All-Ukrainian platform Friends of the DShV.
By clicking on the link, you can either make a one-time donation or arrange a monthly payment.
If you want to help a specific unit, you should select a brigade from the list.
Monetary assistance can also be sent to the general fund of the project. Then the funds will be divided among the most urgent needs of the Ukrainian paratroopers.
