[RPG] Donbass 2014

Slavyansk and Kramatorsk (April–July): The initial flashpoint of armed conflict. The fighting took place under the siege of the cities by Ukrainian forces. The turning point was the battle for the strategic heights of Mount Karachun. In early July, DPR forces under the command of Igor Strelkov retreated to Donetsk and Horlivka, after which the cities came under Ukrainian control.
Mariupol (May–June): The city was strategically important as a major seaport and industrial center. Street fighting raged in the city in May, with some facilities controlled by DPR supporters. On June 13, following a special operation by Ukrainian security forces (including the Azov volunteer battalion), the city was fully recaptured by Kyiv.
Border Battles (June–August): Battles along the Ukrainian-Russian border (near Izvarino, Dolzhansky, and Marinovka). The Ukrainian Armed Forces attempted to cut off the self-proclaimed republics from Russia, but found themselves encircled in the so-called "southern cauldron" and retreated under artillery fire with heavy losses.
Saur-Mogila (July–August): Fighting for commanding heights on the border between the Donetsk and Luhansk regions and Russia. Kurgan repeatedly changed hands due to its key role in controlling the southern sector of the front. In late August, it fell to DPR forces.
Ilovaisk (August – September): The bloodiest battle of 2014. Ukrainian units entered the city but found themselves surrounded. While attempting to exit through the agreed-upon "green corridor," the Ukrainian Armed Forces columns were routed. Kyiv and international observers declared the decisive role of Russian regular troops in this operation. The Ilovaisk cauldron forced Ukraine to sign the first Minsk Agreement.
Donetsk Airport (May 2014 – January 2015): The first attempt by DPR forces to storm the airport took place on May 26 and was repelled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces. From late summer to autumn 2014, protracted trench warfare erupted over the terminals, symbolizing the fierce confrontation of the conflict.

Luhansk and Metalist (June–August): In the summer of 2014, Ukrainian forces attempted to encircle Luhansk. Fierce fighting erupted on the northern approaches to the city, near the village of Metalist. The city was subjected to intense artillery shelling, besieged, and left without power or water, but the Ukrainian assault was stopped.
Luhansk Airport (June – August): A strategic facility held by Ukrainian paratroopers (primarily the 80th Airmobile Brigade) deep in the LPR's rear for several months. The encircled airport was subjected to constant assaults. In June, rebels shot down a Ukrainian Il-76 military transport plane during landing, killing 49 servicemen. In late August, after a massive assault, the Ukrainian garrison destroyed the remaining infrastructure and retreated.
Krasnodon and Izvarino (June–August): Fighting for control of a section of the Ukrainian-Russian border. Supplies to the self-proclaimed republics passed through the Izvarino checkpoint. A Ukrainian Armed Forces group attempted to seal the border, but units stretched along the lines were caught in crossfire and trapped in the "Izvarino pocket," forcing their retreat.
Novosvitlovka and Khryashchevatoe (August): Fighting for villages on the M-04 highway linking Luhansk with the Russian border. In mid-August, the Ukrainian Armed Forces captured these points, completely blockading Luhansk. This triggered fierce counter-attacks involving heavy artillery and armored vehicles. By the end of August, LPR forces regained control of the villages, unblocking the road along which the first Russian humanitarian convoy entered the city.
Bakhmutka Highway and Checkpoints (September–December): After the signing of the First Minsk Agreement, active operations shifted to the contact line along the Seversky Donets River. The main arena of trench warfare became the R-66 (Bakhmutka) Highway, where LPR forces (including Cossack units) conducted a protracted siege of Ukrainian checkpoints (specifically, the 32nd and 31st).

BTR-80: The brigade's main armored personnel carrier in 2014. Used to transport troops and provide fire support.
BTR-3E: During the summer battles, the brigade was one of the first to receive new Ukrainian armored personnel carriers with Shturm combat modules (30-mm cannon, Barrier ATGM).
GAZ-66 and Ural-4320: Primary cargo transport for supplies and towing artillery.
Light vehicles: Due to a shortage of standard equipment, volunteers supplied the brigade with civilian SUVs and minibuses.

D-30 howitzers (122 mm): They formed the basis of the brigade artillery group and were actively used during the siege of Slavyansk and the battles for Mount Karachun.
Mortars: 82 mm BM-37 and 120 mm 2B11.
ATGM: Soviet systems "Fagot" and "Konkurs" for combating armored vehicles.

AKS-74 and AKS-74U: Standard paratrooper assault rifles with folding stocks. Over the course of the year, volunteers began to equip them with red dot sights, attachments, and silencers.
Machine guns: RPK-74, PKM and large-caliber NSV "Utes".
Sniper weapon: SVD

Uniform: At the beginning of the year, they wore Dubok (Ukrainian) camouflage and remnants of Soviet uniforms. By summer and fall, volunteers had donated British DPM/MultiCam and German Flecktarn camouflage to the troops en masse.
Defense: In March, there was a severe shortage of modern body armor (old Korsar-M3 or Soviet ZhZL vests were used). Ushanka hats and SSh-68 steel helmets were replaced in the summer with Kevlar helmets (mostly the general-purpose Kaska-1M and used foreign equivalents purchased by foundations).

Participation in battles:
Slavyansk (April–July): battles for Mount Karachun, assault on checkpoints, coordination of the encirclement of the city.
The 95th Brigade's raid (July–August): the longest raid in military history (approximately 470 km, 170 km of which involved combat). They broke through the defensive line of the LPR/DPR forces, reached Marynivka, relieved the Ukrainian units encircled at the border, and returned through Luhansk Oblast.
Donetsk Airport (October – December): defense of terminals and battles for adjacent villages (Peski, Spartak).

Maneuverable "raid" tactics: Instead of holding a static front line, the brigade operated as an autonomous, highly mobile force. During the famous summer raid, they moved quickly, outflanking major enemy fortified areas, cutting off their rear communications, and launching surprise attacks on artillery positions and headquarters, after which they immediately changed location.
Use of armored groups and patrols: A combat reconnaissance patrol in an armored personnel carrier was always deployed forward. Upon discovering an ambush or stronghold, the patrol engaged the enemy, identifying firing points while the main brigade forces outflanked the enemy.
Fire coordination from the heights: A tactic that was clearly demonstrated on Mount Karachun near Slavyansk. Having captured a commanding height, the brigade transformed it into a fortified artillery hub. Using spotters and UAVs, they delivered precision strikes with D-30 howitzers and mortars, paralyzing the movements of DPR forces below.
Assault operations in urban areas: At the Donetsk airport and the outskirts of Slovyansk, paratroopers adopted the tactics of small infantry groups (assault trios/fives), reinforced with armor. Vehicles (APCs/BMDs) fired from long range ("preemptive fire"), suppressing windows and embrasures while the infantry advanced through buildings.
Establishing mobile checkpoints: When clearing areas, the brigade didn't just move forward, but immediately set up temporary "secret" checkpoints and mobile checkpoints on the roads, blocking the enemy's escape and supply routes.

BTR-80 and BTR-70: The main workhorses. In the spring, many vehicles emerged from the pits without headlights and with bald tires. In the summer, volunteers and repair battalions began welding them with lattice armor to protect against RPGs.
BTR-3E1: A batch of these modern armored personnel carriers with 30mm cannons was delivered to the brigade to replenish losses after leaving the Southern Cauldron.
BTR-4E: Individual vehicles were used in combat alongside the BTR-3.
Vehicles: Ural, KamAZ, and ZIL-131 trucks. Due to the destruction of regular trucks by Grad rockets at the border, the brigade was critically dependent on volunteer jeeps, pickups, and light trucks.

Howitzers D-30 (122 mm): Formed the basis of the brigade artillery group (BrAG).
MLRS "Grad": The BM-21 battery was used for fire support, but experienced a shortage of shells in the first half of the year.
Mortars: 82mm and 120mm systems.
Anti-tank weapons: Soviet ATGMs "Fagot", "Konkurs" and mounted grenade launchers SPG-9 "Kopye".

AK series: Modifications of the AKS-74 with a folding stock, less commonly the AK-74.
Machine guns: RPK-74, PKM. For stationary checkpoints and armored vehicles – large-caliber DShKM and NSV 12.7-mm.
Sniper weapons: SVD rifles. In the fall, volunteers began supplying the first long-range commercial rifles in foreign calibers (for example, .338 Lapua Magnum).

Uniform: In the spring, they wore the Ukrainian "Dubok" uniform. By the end of the summer, volunteers had completely re-equipped the regular and mobilized fighters with used NATO uniforms (British DPM and DDPM, American Woodland). In the fall, the brigade was one of the first to receive experimental Ukrainian uniforms in the "Varan" pattern.
Protection: At the beginning of the war, there was a shortage of body armor, so Soviet ZhZL or Korsar vests were used. By the fall (during the battle for Donetsk Airport), the brigade was well equipped with Class 4+ body armor and Kevlar helmets (mostly used Schubert and PASGT helmets purchased in Europe, as well as Ukrainian Kaska-1M helmets).
Special equipment: In the fall, the "cyborgs" of the 79th Brigade in the Donetsk Aviation Administration received thermal imagers (Pulsar, Quantum), night sights, active headphones and collimators.

"Helicopter" drops: Paratroopers of the 79th Brigade were among the first to use the tactics of airborne assaults from Mi-8 helicopters (in the south of the Donetsk region).
"Mobile checkpoint" tactics: The brigade was divided into company and platoon tactical groups, which advanced into the gray zone, quickly dug in, and blocked the enemy's logistics routes. Vehicles (BTR-80 armored personnel carriers) were used as mobile firing points to quickly respond to ambushes.

"Mole Tactics" (deep digging into the ground): Caught under intense crossfire from artillery and multiple rocket launchers (including, according to the Ukrainian side, from Russian territory), the paratroopers were forced to abandon maneuvers. The primary tactic became the creation of deeply layered dugouts and caponiers for vehicles. Trenches were dug full-height, and armored personnel carriers were dug in up to their turrets.
Artillery "umbrella": The defense was based on infantry coordination with the brigade artillery group (D-30 howitzers). The infantry acted as observers and gunners, calling down fire on the advancing enemy columns.

At Donetsk airport:
Maneuverable defense of the terminals: The paratroopers didn't remain in fixed positions. They used passages through the destroyed airport buildings, mined approaches and stairwells, creating fire pockets for the DPR assault teams.
Armored group "hunting": BTR-80s and the new BTR-3/4s weren't permanently stationed at the airport itself due to the ATGM threat. They were used as "roving" firepower: they would drive at high speed from Peski onto the runway, deliver a dagger-like attack on enemy positions with machine guns or 30mm cannons, and then quickly retreat back to the cover of the destroyed hangars.

Battle locations:
South and the border (March–July): covering the administrative border with Crimea, battles for Slavyansk, Saur-Mogila, and the most difficult defense in the “Southern Cauldron” (Dyakovo, Zelenopolye).
Donetsk Airport (September–December): long-term defense of terminals and battles for Pesky.

BMD-2 and BMD-1: The primary airborne combat vehicles. The BMD-2 was prized for its 30mm 2A42 automatic cannon, which effectively suppressed enemy fire. The vehicles boasted high speed and maneuverability, but their aluminum armor was easily penetrated by heavy machine guns and RPGs.
BTR-D: Tracked airborne armored personnel carriers (without turret armament). Used to transport ammunition, evacuate the wounded, and mount heavy machine guns.
Nona-S (2S9): 120mm self-propelled artillery guns. They possessed unique ballistics, allowing them to be used as both mortars and howitzers. They were actively used for direct fire support of airborne troops.
Motor transport: GAZ-66, KamAZ and Ural trucks for rear supply.

Howitzers D-30 (122 mm): Formed the basis of the brigade artillery along with the self-propelled guns "Nona".
ATGM: Soviet systems "Fagot", "Konkurs" and "Metis".
ZU-23-2: 23mm twin anti-aircraft guns that paratroopers often mounted on GAZ-66 or BTR-D trucks to deliver heavy fire on ground targets.

Machine guns: AKS-74 and AKS-74U.
Machine guns: RPK-74 and PKM/PKT machine guns.
Grenade launchers: Underbarrel GP-25, hand-held RPG-7 and automatic AGS-17 "Flame".

Uniform: At the beginning of the year, they wore "Dubok" camouflage and striped shirts. During the summer and fall, volunteers provided soldiers with British DDPM/MTP uniforms and American kits.
Protection: Steel SSh-68 helmets were replaced with Kevlar helmets of Ukrainian (Kaska-1M) and foreign manufacture. "Korsar" series body armor was reinforced with high-grade Volunteer armor plates.

Battle locations:
Spring: Slavyansk and Kramatorsk (blocking and assault).
Summer: Fierce fighting for Uglegorsk, Shakhtyorsk, and the strategic heights of Saur-Mogila. The brigade suffered heavy losses near Torez in August.
Summer–fall: lifting of the blockade of Luhansk airport and fighting in the Debaltseve area.
Winter: defense of Donetsk airport (Avdiivka) and assault on the Butovka mine.

Deep envelopment operations across rough terrain: The brigade bypassed militia towns and strongholds through fields and green areas, cutting off enemy supply routes. This is how they advanced toward Shakhtyorsk and Uglegorsk in the summer of 2014.
Suppressive fire on the move: BMD-2s with their 30mm 2A42 automatic cannons led the way. The high rate of fire and gun elevation angle allowed them to effectively suppress enemy firing positions in forest belts and on the upper floors of buildings while moving.

A combined armor and infantry attack: The assault on the positions was carried out under the cover of heavy fire from Nona-S self-propelled guns and ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft mounts mounted on trucks or BTR-Ds. Tracked BMDs approached the enemy positions at maximum speed, dismounting troops just before the trenches.
Using the Nona for direct fire: The unique 120mm 2S9 Nona-S guns moved forward along with the infantry battle formations and fired direct fire at pillboxes and dugouts, destroying fortifications that light artillery could not penetrate.

"Poor Man's Tank": Due to the lack of heavy tanks, BMD-2s were used to support infantry in street fighting. However, their thin aluminum armor made them vulnerable to RPGs, leading to heavy losses during ambushes (as in Shakhtarsk on July 31).
Formation of assault groups: The paratroopers dismounted and advanced under the cover of the BMD sides, which moved at a walking pace, covering the infantry from machine-gun fire and suppressing identified targets.

BMP-2 and BMP-1: Primary transport and infantry fire support. BMP-2s with 30mm automatic cannons were used at forward checkpoints and during breakthroughs.
T-64BV tanks: The brigade's tank battalion provided heavy firepower. The BV modification, equipped with Kontakt-1 dynamic protection, allowed it to withstand hits from light grenade launchers, although the tanks also suffered losses under intense artillery shelling.
BRDM-2: Used by the brigade's reconnaissance units.

SPG 2S3 "Akatsiya" (152 mm) and 2S1 "Gvozdika" (122 mm): Tracked self-propelled howitzers that provided mobile artillery support.
MLRS "Grad" (BM-21): Used for area attacks.
Mortars: 120mm 2B11 systems.

Machine guns and assault rifles: AK-74 series, RPK-74 and PKM machine guns. Large-caliber DShKM and NSV 12.7mm machine guns were installed at checkpoints.
ATGMs and grenade launchers: Heavy systems "Konkurs" and "Fagot", hand-held RPG-7, automatic AGS-17 and mounted SPG-9.

Uniform: Standard Ukrainian "Dubok" camouflage. During the weeks-long siege near Izvarino and Chervonopartyzansk, the uniform quickly fell into disrepair. Volunteer aid was difficult to obtain due to the tight encirclement.
Defense: At the beginning of the campaign, there was a severe shortage of modern equipment. Soldiers used SSh-68 steel helmets and early-production "Corsair" body armor (often without armor plates, only with a fabric cover).
The specifics of the "cauldron": Due to constant shelling, shovels and picks became the main elements of "equipment" for the fighters - the brigade literally dug into the ground, building covered dugouts to protect themselves from shells.

Battle locations:
Mariupol (May): liberation of the Ministry of Internal Affairs building from DPR supporters.
Border battle / "Southern (Izvarino) cauldron" (June - August): multi-week defense of the Amvrosiivka - Zelenopolye - Chervonopartizansk - Izvarino lines under continuous crossfire.
Starobeshevo and Volnovakha (autumn): restoration of the front after breaking out of encirclement.

The brigade's main mission in the summer of 2014 was to seal the border with Russia. Stretching out in a thin line for hundreds of kilometers, the units employed defensive strongpoint tactics.
Company strongpoints (CSS): The brigade was divided into small garrisons that occupied commanding heights near border villages (Zelenopolye, Dyakovo, Chervonopartizansk). Around them, a perimeter defense system was created with minefields and fortifications.
Deep entrenching of vehicles: To protect light BMP-1/2 infantry fighting vehicles and tanks from massive rocket and cannon artillery strikes, the brigade employed caponiers. The vehicles were dug into the ground up to the turret, turning into protected firing positions. Soldiers built deep dugouts consisting of four to five layers of logs, which minimized casualties during weeks of shelling.

In offensive and counterattack actions (for example, in Mariupol in May or during attempts to unblock supply routes), the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade acted according to the canons of Soviet tactics.
Tank ramming: Infantry in BMPs advanced under the strict cover of T-64BV tanks. The tanks advanced, absorbing ATGM and heavy-caliber fire, destroying enemy firing points with direct fire, while the BMPs suppressed infantry positions with 30mm cannons.
Creating mobile fire reserves: Tank platoons were often used as "fire brigades." If the enemy broke through on any section of the border, tankers would quickly move in to launch a counterattack on the flank.

Coordination through spotters: In the conditions of trench warfare, the 72nd Brigade's artillery operated on requests from forward reconnaissance posts. As soon as reconnaissance spotted the advance of supply columns or armored vehicles from the LPR and DPR, they were targeted with a massive area-based attack.
Barrage fire: During the assault on enemy strongholds, the brigade's artillery created a "wall of fire" on the approaches to Ukrainian positions, cutting off the militia infantry from their armored vehicles.

T-64BV tanks: The brigade's tank battalion was actively used to assault fortified positions. Their Kontakt-1 dynamic protection protected them from single RPG hits, but they were vulnerable to heavy artillery.
BMP-2 and BMP-1: The primary means of infantry delivery and fire support. The BMP-2's 30mm 2A42 automatic cannons were actively used to suppress enemy fire positions in forest belts and urban areas.
BRDM-2: Used by the brigade's reconnaissance companies for patrols.

Self-propelled guns 2S3 "Akatsiya" (152 mm) and 2S1 "Gvozdika" (122 mm): They were used for counter-battery fire and destruction of enemy fortifications.
BM-21 Grad MLRS: Rocket artillery was used for area strikes and suppression of advancing militia forces.
Mortars: 120-mm 2B11 systems and 82-mm mortars at the battalion level.

Standard weapons: AK-74 assault rifles, RPK-74 and PKM machine guns. NSV "Utes" and DShKM (12.7 mm) heavy machine guns were mounted on armored vehicles and checkpoints.
ATGMs: Soviet Fagot, Konkurs, and Metis systems. RPG-7 and disposable RPG-22/26 grenade launchers were used for close-quarters combat.

Uniform: Ukrainian general-purpose camouflage pattern "Dubok." During the fierce summer fighting on the border, the uniform quickly wore out, and by the end of the summer, volunteers began to partially re-dress soldiers in NATO uniforms (primarily British DPM).
Protection: In the spring, soldiers wore SSh-68 steel helmets. "Korsar-M3" series bulletproof vests were issued primarily to assault units. By the fall, supplies and volunteers partially filled the shortage of Kevlar helmets (primarily "Kaska-1M") and modern vests.

Battle locations:
Rubizhne and Severodonetsk (May): the first clashes in Luhansk region.
Border battle (July-August): fierce assaults on Stepanovka and Miusinsk, battles for the Saur-Mogila mound with the aim of breaking through a corridor to the encircled units.
Lutugine and Georgievka (August): fighting on the southern approaches to Luhansk.

Massive artillery preparation: Before the advance of armored vehicles, the brigade artillery group (self-propelled guns "Akatsiya", "Gvozdika" and MLRS "Grad") carried out a dense shelling of enemy positions, identifying and suppressing firing points.
Infantry tank breakthrough: T-64BV tanks led the assault columns, destroying fortifications and barricades with direct fire. Infantry in BMP-2s followed behind the tanks, protected by their armor, quickly dismounting to clear trenches, dugouts, and buildings.

Autonomy of supply and firepower: Each BTGr had its own tank platoons, mortar batteries, air defense systems (ZU-23-2), and support units. This allowed them to fight independently for weeks, separated from the main forces (for example, during the breaching of the border corridor to Saur-Mogila).
Outflanking maneuver: Faced with head-on resistance in populated areas, the BTGr utilized the tracked cross-country ability of infantry fighting vehicles and tanks, bypassing defensive nodes through fields and attacking the enemy from the flank and rear.

Holding with armored groups: Instead of a continuous line of trenches, camouflaged platoon strongpoints were created. A mobile reserve of tanks and infantry fighting vehicles was stationed deep within the defense, advancing to the enemy breakthrough to launch a swift counterattack.
"Wandering" mortars and self-propelled guns: To avoid the destruction of their artillery by return fire, the crews of 120-mm mortars and self-propelled guns constantly changed positions immediately after firing several salvos.

Along with AK-74 and AKS-74U assault rifles, volunteers received Soviet AKM and AKMS assault rifles en masse from storage depots. Some units (especially the BRO) issued SKS carbines, PPSh submachine guns, and even Maxim and DP-27 machine guns.
Machine guns and grenade launchers: RPK/RPK-74 hand-held and PKM machine guns were used. Reinforcements included RPG-7 anti-tank grenade launchers, RPG-22/26 disposable grenade launchers, and GP-25 underbarrel grenade launchers.

Light armor: Ministry of Internal Affairs units (for example, the "Donbass") were issued light armored vehicles Cougar (KrAZ) and older BRDM-2s. Occasionally, individual BTR-70 or BTR-80 BTRs were also provided.
"Gantraks" (Shushpantsery): The main calling card of the volunteer battalions. Civilian dump trucks (KamAZ, MAZ), pickup trucks (Mitsubishi L200), and cash-in-transit vans were improvisedly lined with steel sheets and rebar. Heavy machine guns (DShK, NSV "Utes") or twin ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft mounts were mounted on them.

Uniform: A complete jumble. Second-hand NATO camouflage was used: British MTP/DPM, American Woodland/ACU, German Flecktarn. The black MVD uniform quickly fell out of use, as it greatly exposed soldiers in the field.
Protection: Steel helmets SSh-68 were not used. Volunteers were among the first to receive Kevlar helmets from Europe en masse (used Bundeswehr M92 helmets, British MK6 helmets). Body armor was purchased by volunteer funds; the plates were often homemade in Ukrainian factories from spring steel, which led to issues with protection.
Special equipment: Thanks to the flexible logistics of volunteers, by the fall of 2014, the volunteer battalions were equipped with commercial radios (Motorola, Baofeng), collimator sights, and the first thermal imagers, better than many regular units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Battle locations:
Azov region (May – June): liberation of Mariupol (Azov, Dnepr-1) and clearing of the coast.
Luhansk region (July): assault on Popasna and Lisichansk (Donbass).
Ilovaisk (August): urban fighting and tragic encirclement (Donbass, Dnepr-1, Kherson, Shakhtarsk).
Suburbs of Donetsk (autumn).

Assault teams of three and five: Ukrainian paratroopers and infantry often sealed off cities from the outside, while volunteers moved in. Due to the lack of communications and heavy weapons, they split into small groups. Tactics involved quickly infiltrating through courtyards, suppressing fire positions with RPGs and light machine guns, and engaging in close-quarters firefights inside buildings.
Using gun trucks for fire support: Home-made armored trucks and pickups with Utes or DShK machine guns would rush into the streets at top speed, suppress enemy barricades and sniper positions with a barrage of fire, allowing the infantry to pass through, and then immediately retreat.

"Raids" on checkpoints: Using ordinary civilian cars and minibuses, volunteers carried out surprise raids on militia outposts, captured prisoners, weapons, and quickly retreated before the main enemy forces arrived.
Counter-sabotage: Volunteer battalions served as military police in liberated cities. They set up ambushes on roads, identified informants and fire spotters, and eliminated sabotage and reconnaissance groups (DRGs) in their rear.

Lack of coordination with the army: Volunteers reported to the Ministry of Internal Affairs or acted autonomously (like the Right Sector), which often meant there was no coordination with Ukrainian artillery and tanks. Army units could retreat without warning the volunteer battalions, leading to encirclement.
Vulnerability to regular units: The light infantry tactics of the volunteer battalions completely collapsed when confronted by the regular army. Faced with intense artillery fire and tank attacks from Russian Armed Forces BTGs in August, the volunteer battalions, lacking heavy, dug-in weapons, were unable to hold their positions and suffered critical losses.

Dugouts and trenches: Soldiers from regular brigades and volunteer battalions dug full-height trenches by hand and built covered dugouts using several layers of logs. In border areas (for example, near Izvarino), soldiers remained underground for weeks due to round-the-clock shelling.
Life in the trenches: We slept on wooden pallets covered with sleeping mats and sleeping bags (mostly volunteer ones). Due to the dampness and constant dust, clothes and sleeping bags were rarely dry.
Abandoned buildings: During positional battles in industrial zones (Donetsk and Luhansk airports), everyday life was organized in basements, sewers, or dilapidated terminals, where they built improvised "holes" from fragments of plasterboard and mineral wool.

Diet: The staple diet consisted of porridge, stewed meat, instant pasta (Mivina), and canned goods. Meals were cooked on the front lines over campfires or on portable gas burners in the trenches.
Water is the main shortage: In the encircled pockets and at the Donetsk airport, water delivery was fraught with enormous risk. Soldiers were forced to collect rainwater, filter water from puddles, vehicle radiators, and nearby bodies of water. In the Donetsk airport, soldiers chopped and melted ice in the winter.

Field hygiene: Baby wipes, which volunteers brought in tons, became the primary means of personal hygiene. They used them to "wash," clean weapons, and wipe shoes. Due to the lack of sanitation, pediculosis (lice) and scabies were a constant problem on the front lines.
Clothing: Due to a shortage of standard uniforms, soldiers often wore greasy, scorched clothing of various camouflage patterns. There was nowhere or nothing to wash uniforms in the trenches, so they were simply replaced with new volunteer uniforms as they wore out.
Medicine: The first first aid kits consisted of Soviet Esmarch tourniquets (which broke in the cold) and analgin. High-quality Israeli or American tourniquets, Celox (hemostatic), and anti-shock kits were supplied exclusively by medical volunteers.

In 2014, mobile communications were both a lifesaver and a mortal threat. Soldiers called their families from push-button phones.

T-64BV and T-72A/T-72B tanks: The "Somali" tank company was actively used as the main battering ram during the assault on the airport terminals. The tanks were equipped with Kontakt-1 dynamic armor to counter Ukrainian ATGMs and RPGs.
BMP-2 and BMP-1: Primary infantry fighting vehicles. The BMP-2, armed with 30mm 2A42 cannons, was prized for its ability to fire at the airport's upper floors and control tower.
BTR-80 and MT-LB: Used to quickly transport assault groups across airstrips exposed to fire. MT-LBs were often home-made and upgraded with twin ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft mounts.
Motor transport: Ural-4320 and KamAZ trucks formed the basis of logistics, while civilian SUVs were used for rapid movement and reconnaissance purposes.

Assault rifles: Modifications of the AK-74, AKS-74, and AKM/AKMS, which were prized in urban combat for their superior penetration of brick walls. Soldiers made extensive use of captured Ukrainian attachments, collimators, and silencers.
Machine guns: RPK-74 light machine guns, PKM machine guns. The large-caliber NSV Utes and DShK machine guns held a special place, being mounted on mounts in dilapidated buildings to suppress Ukrainian Armed Forces fire from a distance.
Close combat weapons: RPG-7 grenade launchers, RPO-A Shmel rocket flamethrowers and AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers.
Sniper weapons: Standard SVD, and by the end of the year, the battalion's specialists received large-caliber rifles.

• Uniform: At first, a mix of civilian clothes and camouflage patterns (Gorka, Flora, Ukrainian Dubok). By the winter battles for the airport, soldiers had largely changed into Russian uniforms in the EMR (Ratnik/Tsifra) and Moss colors. White or St. George armbands on the arms and legs were mandatory identification elements.
• Protection: Assault group fighters were equipped with heavy Russian body armor (series 6B23, 6B43/45) and helmets (6B7-1M, 6B47, old SSh-68).
Special equipment: For night battles in the basements and on the floors of the airport, captured night vision devices, thermal imagers, and portable radios were used.

Tank dagger fire: T-64BV or T-72 tanks would fly out to direct fire at high speed, fire several quick shots at embrasures, firing points and fortified positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the New Terminal or the control tower, and then immediately retreat behind the buildings ("carousel").
Armor as a shield for landing troops: BMP-2 and MT-LB were used to quickly transport infantry directly to walls or building breaches under the cover of tank fire and smoke screens, minimizing the time soldiers spent in exposed areas.

Assault Troop Method: The Somali infantry operated in small groups. Soldiers with automatic weapons and heavy armor shields led the way, followed by a grenade launcher or flamethrower operator.
Active use of Shmel rocket launchers and grenades: Searches and clearing of each room began with a mass lobbing of hand grenades or a shot from an RPO-A Shmel rocket flamethrower. The flamethrowers' thermobaric effect allowed for the destruction of Ukrainian Armed Forces firing positions in concrete fortifications without having to enter the direct line of fire.

Interdiction fire: Heavy machine guns (Utes, DShK) and AGS-17 automatic grenade launchers were installed on the upper floors of controlled buildings. They conducted continuous harassing fire on Ukrainian Armed Forces supply routes (from Pisky and Avdiivka), attempting to disrupt the rotation and delivery of ammunition to Ukrainian troops.
Anti-sniper teams: The battalion consisted of pairs of snipers with large-caliber rifles and spotters. They tracked Ukrainian firing positions deep within the terminals and destroyed their walls with precision fire.

Battle locations:
Ilovaisk (August): unit formation site; heavy street fighting to eliminate the encircled Ukrainian Armed Forces group.
Donetsk Airport (since September): a multi-month bloody assault on the New and Old terminals, as well as battles for adjacent territories (Peski, Spartak, Avdiivka industrial zone).

Captured BMP-1 and BMP-2 infantry fighting vehicles: These formed the core of the unit's armor. These vehicles were captured in battles with Ukrainian mechanized brigades in the Luhansk region.
BTR-70 and BTR-80: Used for patrolling and providing fire support to infantry.
MT-LB with ZU-23-2: Due to a shortage of standard anti-aircraft self-propelled guns, Mozgovoy's soldiers actively mounted twin 23-mm anti-aircraft mounts on tracked tractors, creating mobile means for suppressing infantry and fortifications of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Civilian transport: "Ghost" made extensive use of requisitioned or volunteer-donated pickups, SUVs, and trucks (KamAZ, ZIL).

Assault rifles: The main weapons were Soviet AK-74, AKS-74, and AKM. The militias retrieved WWII-era weapons from mine depots and old arsenals—SKS carbines and PPSh assault rifles.
Machine guns: RPK/RPK-74 light machine guns, PKM machine guns. DShK and NSV "Utes" (12.7 mm) heavy machine guns were used for checkpoint defense.
Anti-tank weapons: RPG-7 grenade launchers, disposable RPG-22/26 grenades, and mounted SPG-9 "Kopye" grenades. Soviet anti-tank rifles from the Great Patriotic War—the PTRD and PTRS (14.5 mm)—were actively used, serving as large-caliber anti-sniper rifles.
Mortars: 82-mm BM-37 and captured 120-mm systems.

Uniform: The Prizrak's signature style in the summer of 2014 was the Gorka-3 and Gorka-4 camouflage suits, as well as a mix of the Russian Flora uniform and regular jeans or black civilian clothing. By the fall, some of the unit had switched to Russian Tsifra (EMR) and Moss camouflage. St. George ribbons and patches with Cossack or Soviet symbols were also worn.
Protection: There was a critical shortage of modern body armor. Soldiers wore old SSh-68 steel helmets and early Soviet or Ukrainian-made body armor, often without armor plates. Foreign communist and leftist volunteers supplied equipment individually.
Special equipment: Due to Mozgovoy's independent status, official supplies were scarce. Radios (mostly Baofeng), basic optical sights.

Ambushes on supply columns: Mozgovoy's militia set up ambushes in the greenery along the routes used by the Ukrainian Armed Forces' rear columns. Using grenade launchers (RPG-7) and machine guns, they launched a rapid fire strike on the lead and rearmost vehicles, after which they quickly retreated deeper into controlled territory, avoiding a protracted battle with superior forces.
Sabotage raids: Small groups penetrated behind the front lines to carry out raids on artillery positions or weakly fortified checkpoints of Ukrainian troops, disrupting command and control.

In the summer of 2014, Prizrak turned the Severodonetsk-Lisichansk-Rubizhne triangle into a powerful fortified area.
Reliance on industrial development: Defenses were built around factories, industrial zones, and mines. The concrete structures of these factories were used as reliable shelters from Ukrainian artillery.
Fire traps in urban areas: During the Ukrainian Armed Forces' assault on Lysychansk in July, the Prizrak tank didn't hold the outer perimeters, but lured Ukrainian armored vehicles into narrow streets. There, they were subjected to crossfire from the upper floors of buildings, using RPGs and ATGMs. The rebels, lacking heavy armor, compensated for this with their knowledge of the terrain and the use of engineered mines.

Mobile mortar crews: 82mm and 120mm mortars were mounted on the back of trucks. They would move toward Ukrainian positions, fire mortar rounds at checkpoints, and quickly change positions before Ukrainian radars could detect the shells' launch point.
Using air defense "gun trucks" against infantry: Twin ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns based on the MT-LB were rolled out to direct fire, delivered a barrage of blows to the trenches of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, and immediately disappeared behind folds of the terrain.

Battle locations:
Rubizhne, Severodonetsk, Lisichansk (May–July): the first battles at the crossings and the tough defense of the “Lisichansk salient.”
Bakhmut highway (September – November): protracted siege of Ukrainian checkpoints.
Debaltseve (winter): fighting on the northern side of the bridgehead.

T-64BV tanks: Several vehicles were used to storm Ukrainian positions and fortifications in the area of ​​the Luhansk airport.
BMP-2 and BMP-1: The primary transport for assault groups. The BMP-2, armed with 30mm automatic cannons, was prized for its high firepower in dense vegetation.
BTR-80 and BTR-70: Used for patrolling Luhansk and operational missions to the front lines.
MT-LB with ZU-23-2: Mobile anti-aircraft guns, assembled in the battalion's repair battalions, were used to destroy the manpower and light armor of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Assault rifles: Standard AK-74 and AKS-74. The Rusich sabotage and assault group, part of the rapid response team, made extensive use of modernized assault rifles with collimator sights, tactical grips, and silencers.
Machine guns: In addition to the RPK-74 light machine guns and the PKM machine guns, the detachment had NSV Utes heavy machine guns (12.7 mm), which were mounted on pickup trucks or fortified firing positions.
Grenade launchers and flamethrowers: RPG-7, automatic AGS-17 "Plamya" and infantry rocket flamethrowers RPO-A "Shmel", which were actively used in clearing Ukrainian positions.
Sniper systems: Along with the standard SVD, the detachment's scouts used silent rifles (such as the VSS Vintorez) and large-caliber sniper weapons.

Uniform: RRG soldiers rarely wore civilian clothing. Popular uniforms included the Russian Gorka-3/4 camouflage suit, the Multicam camouflage pattern, and the Russian Tsifra (EMR) camouflage. Sleeve patches with a bat (the RRG emblem) or kolovrats and runes (for the Rusich Airborne Assault Group) were mandatory.
Protection: The unit was well equipped with modern Russian protective equipment: 6B23/6B43/6B45 series bulletproof vests and Kevlar helmets (6B7-1M, 6B47), due to which the attack aircraft suffered fewer losses from shrapnel.
Special equipment: The State Security Service had imported encrypted radio stations, thermal imaging sights, and night vision devices, which allowed them to operate effectively in the dark.

Thorough engineering preparation: Ambush positions were chosen in narrow sections of the highway, surrounded by dense forest belts. The road was mined in advance with guided land mines or anti-personnel mines (MON-50).
Crossfire: After allowing a column of Ukrainian Armed Forces or volunteer battalions to approach, soldiers detonated mines, then opened fire with PKM machine guns, large-caliber PTRS anti-tank rifles, and RPG-7 grenade launchers. The most famous example was the battle of September 5, 2014, near Tsvetnye Pesky, where a RRT ambushed a column of the Aidar Battalion and the 80th Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, suffering heavy losses in a matter of minutes.

Rapid advance: Assault groups in BMP-2 and BTR-80 vehicles exploited the element of surprise. The armored vehicles approached Ukrainian strongholds at maximum speed, delivering continuous suppressive fire from 30mm automatic cannons.
Dismounting under the cover of armor: The infantry landed in close proximity to the Ukrainian Armed Forces positions, using the equipment as a shield from small arms fire, and immediately entered into close combat, throwing grenades into the trenches.

"Hunting" in the dark: Small groups of scouts infiltrated the front lines at night, tracked down the positions of Ukrainian spotters, snipers, or mortar crews, and silently eliminated them (using weapons with silencers like the VSS Vintorez).
Fire adjustment: Reconnaissance groups entered the rear of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, recorded the coordinates of the concentration of equipment and aimed their own artillery and mortars at them.

Battle locations:
Metalist and Aleksandrovsk (June–July): fierce fighting on the northern approaches to Luhansk, containing Ukrainian Armed Forces breakthroughs.
Luhansk Airport (August): assault and blockade of a strategic defensive hub for Ukrainian paratroopers.
Khryashchevatoe and Novosvetlovka (August): battles to unblock the highway to Krasnodon.
Tsvetnye Peski (September): the defeat in an ambush of the advancing column of the Aidar battalion.

T-64BV tanks: Formed the backbone of the brigade's heavy armament. They were used to storm Marinovka and fortify positions near Saur-Mogila.
BMP-2 and BMP-1: The main infantry fighting vehicles. The BMP-2's guns were actively used to suppress Ukrainian Armed Forces fire points in the greenery.
BTR-80 and BTR-70: Actively used by assault companies. Homemade anti-HEAT grates were welded onto the BTRs.
ZU-23-2 based on KamAZ and MT-LB trucks: Mobile firing points for delivering dense fire at ground targets.

Assault rifles: Primarily AK-74 and AKS-74. Unlike other units, Vostok had virtually no outdated weapons like the PPSh. Special forces soldiers had modern attachments, silencers, and collimator sights.
Machine guns: RPK-74 light machine guns, PKM machine guns. NSV "Utes" and DShK heavy machine guns were widely installed at checkpoints and vehicles.
Reinforcements: RPG-7 grenade launchers, AGS-17 "Plamya" automatic grenade launchers, as well as Soviet "Fagot" and "Konkurs" ATGMs, with the help of which "Vostok" fighters held back Ukrainian armored vehicles on the southern side of the front.

Uniform: The brigade's standard uniform during summer battles was the Russian Gorka-3 camouflage suit (in a combination of khaki and brown inserts), as well as the Multicam and Flora camouflage patterns. The brigade's recognizable sleeve insignia, featuring the St. George ribbon and shield, was worn. Blue or white identification armbands were also a distinguishing mark.
Protection: The assault group fighters were well equipped with Russian protective equipment: 6B23 series bulletproof vests and modern Kevlar helmets (6B7-1M), which made them stand out from other militias.
Special equipment: The brigade had professional radio stations (Motorola), night vision devices and thermal imagers to coordinate the actions of artillery and assault groups.

In 2014, this battalion was considered one of the most disciplined, organized, and professional units in Novorossiya.

Echeloned fortification: Unlike mobile groups, "Vostok" relied on engineered positions. Deep trenches, camouflaged dugouts, and caponiers for infantry fighting vehicles and tanks were created around Saur-Mogila and on the approaches to Donetsk.
Adjusting artillery fire from the heights: Having secured a position on Saur-Mogila, the brigade's fighters turned the mound into a primary observation post. Vostok special forces conducted reconnaissance around the clock, detecting the advance of Ukrainian Armed Forces columns, and promptly relayed the precise coordinates of their artillery, thwarting Ukrainian forces' attempts to cut off the republics from the border.

Blocking and clearing: The brigade's assault companies were divided into semi-autonomous platoon groups. While armored vehicles (T-64BV tanks and BMP-2 BMPs) engaged the enemy from the front, the infantry carried out covert flanking maneuvers, cutting off supply lines to Ukrainian checkpoints.
Coordination and Communications: Unlike other militia units, which experienced chaos in command and control, Vostok used secure radio channels. This allowed them to quickly call in mortar fire support during a firefight.

Underestimating enemy air power: In May, Vostok assault groups entered the New Terminal of the Donetsk Airport but found themselves blocked on the roof and upper floors. The Ukrainian army deployed attack aircraft (Su-25) and helicopters (Mi-24), which the rebels, who lacked sufficient man-portable air defense systems at the time, were unprepared for. During the retreat, the brigade's column came under friendly fire in Donetsk due to misinformation. This experience forced Khodakovsky to completely rethink his tactics, emphasizing camouflage, air defense, and avoiding frontal assaults without air suppression.

Battle locations:
Donetsk Airport (May): first attempt to storm the terminals, ending in withdrawal.
Karlovka and Peski (May–July): containing the Ukrainian Armed Forces offensive on the western approaches to Donetsk.
Saur-Mogila and Marinovka (July–August): bloody defense of the heights and battles to eliminate the “Southern Cauldron.”

Novorossiya:
Where they lived: During the Slovyansk and Kramatorsk stages, the rebels occupied captured administrative buildings, schools, and children's camps. As trench warfare in industrial zones (for example, at the Topaz plant in Donetsk or in the workshops of Alchevsk) shifted to trench warfare, they set up sleeping quarters directly on the concrete floors, using mattresses from dormitories and construction pallets. At the Donetsk airport, Somalia and Sparta fighters lived for weeks in smoke-filled basements and the dark concrete halls of the destroyed terminals.
What they ate: There was no unified dry ration system. Local residents prepared food for the militia, bringing home-canned goods, potatoes, and grains. Toward autumn, centralized deliveries of stewed meat and grains from Russia began, but in remote Cossack detachments in the southern Luhansk region, supplies remained meager—fighters often subsisted on porridge cooked in buckets over campfires.
Hygiene and supplies: Uniforms and footwear were the main problem. Soldiers wore a patchwork of gear, mixing Russian-made Gorka suits with civilian clothing. There was nowhere to wash clothes in the trench warfare, so uniforms became greasy and black. Medical supplies were supplied through humanitarian organizations.

BMD-2 (Airborne Combat Vehicle): The primary transport and fire support vehicle for infantry. It was equipped with a 30mm 2A42 automatic cannon, which was effective against Ukrainian fortifications in forested areas. Many vehicles were modernized (BMD-2KU) and equipped with new R-168 radios.
BTR-D: Tracked armored personnel carriers, on which paratroopers often installed twin ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft mounts to deliver heavy fire at ground targets.
2S9 "Nona-S": 120mm self-propelled artillery and mortar guns. Used to provide direct fire support for landing troops, destroying pillboxes and mortar positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Machine guns: Modernized AK-74M (with new sighting bars, collimator sights "Nit" or "Kobra", night sights 1P93).
Special silent weapons: The division's reconnaissance companies used silent AS Val assault rifles and VSS Vintorez rifles for night operations.
Machine guns: PKM and Pecheneg general-purpose machine guns, as well as NSV Utes and Kord (12.7 mm) large-caliber machine guns.
Grenade launchers and flamethrowers: In addition to the underbarrel GP-25 and hand-held RPG-7, the RPO-A Shmel infantry rocket flamethrowers were actively used.

Uniform: Russian "Digital" camouflage pattern (EMR). Before crossing the border, all insignia, airborne troops patches, and Russian flags were removed from the uniform. White armbands and trouser legs were used as identification.
Protection: The paratroopers were fully equipped with modern protective gear—6B23 series bulletproof vests or the first modular 6B43/6B45 series with ceramic-composite plates (unlike the Ukrainian volunteer vests, they reliably withstood 5.45mm and 7.62mm bullets). Head protection was provided by 6B7-1M and the latest 6B47 helmets.
Special equipment and communications: The BTGr had superior communications equipment (Aqueduct series tactical radios) and optics. Laser rangefinders, night vision binoculars, and thermal imagers were widely used, allowing for unit coordination in the dark.

Drones and electronic reconnaissance: Russian units actively used drones (such as the Orlan-10) to expose Ukrainian positions. As soon as the Ukrainian Armed Forces opened fire or began moving, their coordinates were instantly transmitted to artillery batteries.
Preemptive artillery strike: Instead of a classic infantry attack, Ukrainian positions were covered with massive, precision artillery fire. This allowed the resistance to be suppressed before the paratroopers could engage in close combat.

Night assaults: With superior thermal imaging and night vision devices, the BTGs regrouped and conducted assault operations at night. Ukrainian units, lacking night vision optics, often failed to notice enemy advances.
Flanking maneuvers through the "green zone": Instead of moving along highways, the BTGs used the high cross-country ability of their tracked BMD-2 infantry fighting vehicles to traverse forest belts and ravines. Thus, in August 2014, the Ukrainian garrisons in Georgievka and Lutugine were outflanked and cut off from supplies, forcing the Ukrainian Armed Forces to hastily lift the siege of Luhansk.

The units moved in dispersed columns, disguising their equipment as captured or locally produced armor from the republics. Combat operations were swift: after completing a mission (for example, eliminating the encircled Luhansk airport), the BTGs quickly dispersed and withdrew deeper into government-controlled territory or beyond the border, yielding ground to local militia units.

The division deployed its battalion tactical groups (BTGr) in Donbass, formed primarily from contract soldiers of the 104th and 234th airborne assault regiments.

Battle locations:
Georgievka and Lutugine (August): unblocking of Luhansk, fierce battles with the 30th, 24th Separate Mechanized Brigade and the 80th Joint Airborne Brigade of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
Luhansk Airport (August–September): assault and liquidation of a fortified defensive position of Ukrainian paratroopers.

The division deployed battalion tactical groups (BTGr) in combat operations in Donbass, the core of which consisted of contract soldiers from the 331st Guards Airborne Regiment.

BMD-2 (Airborne Combat Vehicle): The main combat unit. The 30mm 2A42 automatic cannon effectively suppressed fire positions and lightly armored vehicles of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The vehicles were equipped with modern R-168 radios for reliable communications.
BTR-D and BTR-RD "Robot": Tracked armored personnel carriers. The "Robot" modification carried "Konkurs" anti-tank missiles to combat Ukrainian tanks.
2S9 "Nona-S": 120-mm self-propelled airborne artillery guns that provided the BTGr with its own powerful artillery support from direct fire and closed positions.

Assault rifles: Modernized AK-74M. Reconnaissance companies used silent AS Val assault rifles and VSS Vintorez sniper rifles.
Machine guns: PKM and Pecheneg general-purpose machine guns, which provided a high density of fire in small arms combat. Large-caliber 12.7mm Kord machine guns were used for additional firepower.
Anti-tank weapons: In addition to the RPG-7 hand-held grenade launchers and the disposable RPG-26, the paratroopers had the Kornet and Metis-M portable ATGMs, which were superior to the older Soviet systems in range and penetration.

Uniform: Camouflage suit in the "Digital" pattern (EMR) without any chevrons, airborne troops patches, or Russian flags. White fabric armbands were applied to the uniform for friend-or-foe identification.
Protective equipment: Soldiers were fully equipped with modern Russian 6B23 body armor and 6B43/6B45 general-purpose differentiated vests with Granit ceramic plates. Head protection was provided by 6B7-1M helmets and 6B47 fabric-polymer helmets.
Special equipment: The group had superiority in tactical radio communications (Aqueduct systems), laser rangefinders, night optics and portable thermal imagers.

Battle locations:
Ilovaisk direction: encirclement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces near Kuteynikovo, Zerkalnoye and the defeat of columns near Chervonoselskoye.

Stealthy infiltration of armored groups: Tracked BMD-2 and BTR-D infantry fighting vehicles moved in dispersed columns off the main roads, exploiting the terrain and tree lines of the southern front. This allowed them to penetrate deep into the rear of the Ukrainian Armed Forces group near Ilovaisk (in the areas of Kuteynikovo, Zerkalnoye, and the long-suffering village of Starobeshevo) undetected by Ukrainian reconnaissance.
Instant creation of an outer ring: Having reached key road junctions, the paratroopers did not storm the cities but immediately blocked the Ukrainian Armed Forces' escape routes. Equipment was dug into caponiers, minefields were laid, and a layered, all-round defense system was established.

The tactics of the 98th Division were most clearly demonstrated on August 29–30, 2014, during the liquidation of Ukrainian columns leaving Ilovaisk (the so-called “green corridor”).
Preliminary targeting of lines: The paratroopers did not interfere with the formation of Ukrainian columns, but occupied commanding heights along the agreed-upon routes (in the area of ​​the villages of Mnohopillya, Chervonoselskoye, and Khutor Gorbatenko). All intersections, lowlands, and open sections of road were pre-targeted with artillery and mortars.
Crossfire: When the Ukrainian Armed Forces columns, consisting primarily of light volunteer armor and civilian vehicles belonging to volunteer battalions, entered pre-prepared kill zones, they were met with heavy fire. Tanks (attached to the BTGr) and BMD-2 BMDs destroyed the Ukrainian Armed Forces' heavy vehicles with direct fire, while Kornet ATGMs engaged targets at long range, completely paralyzing movement and splitting the columns into isolated pockets of resistance.

Corrections via UAVs: Drones hovered over the bridgehead around the clock, recording any attempts by Ukrainian troops to break through or deploy their batteries.
Counter-battery warfare: The combination of the Akveduk digital communications system and artillery reconnaissance data allowed the Nona-S self-propelled guns and attached Grad MLRS to strike Ukrainian artillery within minutes of its detection.

The units operated covertly: tactical markings were completely erased from their equipment, and personnel fought without chevrons or documents.

T-72B3 tanks: At the time, the newest Russian modernization of the T-72. They were equipped with modern Kontakt-5 dynamic protection, Sosna-U multi-channel gunner's sights with a thermal imager, and new guns. These tanks were qualitatively superior to the Ukrainian T-64BV.
BMP-2: The main infantry fighting vehicle, providing a high density of fire from 30-mm automatic cannons.
BTR-82A: The 18th Brigade was one of the first to receive these new wheeled armored personnel carriers en masse, equipped with a 30mm 2A72 automatic cannon instead of the old KPVT machine guns.
MT-LB and MT-LBVM: Tracked tractors used for transporting ammunition off-road.

2S19 Msta-S (152mm) self-propelled howitzers: powerful self-propelled howitzers capable of firing at ranges of up to 25–29 km. They were used to destroy concrete pillboxes and Ukrainian bases in the rear.
MLRS "Grad" (BM-21) and "Tornado-G": Modernized multiple launch rocket systems that carried out strikes on areas and columns of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Small arms arsenal: Modernized AK-74M assault rifles (often with night sights), PKM and Pecheneg machine guns, Kord large-caliber machine guns (12.7 mm), as well as RPG-7 and AGS-17 grenade launchers.
Uniform and protection: Personnel wore standard Russian "Tsifra" (EMR) camouflage without insignia. Assault group members wore standard 6B23 general-purpose body armor or the first modular 6B43/6B45 and 6B7-1M/6B47 helmets. White armbands and trouser legs were worn for identification.

Battle locations:
Luhansk direction (August): fighting in the area of ​​Novosvetlovka and Khryashchevatoye, where their heavy armor and Msta-S self-propelled guns broke through the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defenses and unblocked the highway to Krasnodon.
Donetsk direction (August - September): assault operations near Ilovaisk, Starobeshevo and battles on the southern face of the front.

Isolation of the combat area: Before the attack, artillery struck deep into the Ukrainian defenses, destroying command posts, ammunition depots, and cutting off supply routes.
Erasing Fortifications: During the assault on heavily fortified Ukrainian Armed Forces positions in Novosvetlivka and Khryashchevatoye, the brigade artillery literally razed forward checkpoints and pockets of resistance to the ground. Infantry and tanks only went on the offensive after the target had been completely suppressed by the barrage.

Long-range fire superiority: At night or in poor visibility, Russian tank crews, thanks to their sophisticated optics, spotted Ukrainian T-64BVs and infantry fighting vehicles before they could return fire. T-72B3s engaged Ukrainian vehicles from ranges beyond the reach of older Soviet targeting systems.
Tank support for motorized infantry: Motorized infantry in BMP-2s and new BTR-82As attacked strictly under the cover of tanks, which absorbed ATGM strikes and destroyed concrete fortifications and firing points in buildings with direct fire.

Digging in heavy armor: Having secured key road intersections and commanding heights, motorized infantry immediately dug tanks and infantry fighting vehicles into caponiers. Removing such a fortified area by light infantry from volunteer battalions or retreating Ukrainian columns was virtually impossible.
BTR-82A Heavy Fire: New wheeled armored personnel carriers with 30mm 2A72 automatic cannons were used for rapid-fire suppression of enemy personnel and vehicles, creating a continuous kill zone on exposed road sections.