Ukraine’s special operations troops have learned to fight less like U.S. Army Rangers assault troops, punching through enemy lines in a battle charge, and more like Green Berets, who practice the dark art of unconventional warfare behind enemy lines.
in security assistance the U.S. has partly delivered since Russian forces invaded on Feb. 24. Despite the latest infusions of aid, Sak tells me, “I’m grateful, but we need more.” And faster. “Why not start training Ukrainian pilots how to fly advanced jets right now,” because within a few months, the West is finally going to realize Ukraine needs them to survive, he asks.
In Kyiv, what they see as their Western allies’ delayed absorption of battlefield realities is measured in the lives of people they know lost forever, and in territory lost that will be even harder to win back, as the defender almost always has the advantage. its military, chastened after Moscow’s near-bloodless seizure of Crimea in 2014. Aided and advised mainly by the U.S., U.K., Canada, Poland, Lithuania, and Estonia, the Ukrainians made changes that meant their troops in 2022 were better led, provisioned, and fed than their Russian counterparts. Or so the common wisdom went, as Russian forces turned tail and exited western Ukraine in mid-May.
Ukraine’s special-operations forces have been at work the same way, current and former officials inside Ukraine tell me. They point to the near killing of a senior city official who’d been cooperating with the Russians in occupied Melitopol by a mysterious explosion. “Maybe he just lit a cigarette too close to the stove gas,” a lawmaker smirks at me, refusing to confirm or deny the operation.
A senior European-based special operator who has advised the Ukrainians for years insists they do have their own training programs, but they’re not always well-organized or well-attended. And the soldiers-turned-trainers hate staying in the rear, away from the fight. It makes them feel like cowards.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Live blog: Russia, allied militia reportedly enter Ukraine's SiverskRussia, Ukraine, Türkiye and UN make progress at talks in Istanbul over Black Sea grain exports, but an end to conflict remains far off as heavy shelling continues on day 141 of fighting.
Read more »
Ukraine military ordered to submit DNA 'to identify all our dead': OfficialUkrainian military members and law enforcement officers are reportedly required to submit DNA samples to help identify those killed in the war with Russia.
Read more »
Russian strikes kill at least 20 in central UkraineAt least 20 people are dead and 90 others injured — about half of them seriously — after Russian rockets struck a city in central Ukraine, officials said. At least 3 children were among those killed.
Read more »
Ukrainian World Congress to sue Canada for returning Nord Stream 1 turbineThe Ukrainian World Congress said Tuesday it plans to sue over Canada's decision to return repaired Nord Stream 1 turbines to Germany because it helps Russia sell oil to Europe.
Read more »