Volunteers’ raid in Belgorod region and Russian operational defeat in Bakhmut. Serhiy Zgurets’ column

Events in the Belgorod region

An interesting development has occurred in the Belgorod region. The voluntary formation of the Legion Freedom of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps has initiated the establishment of a demilitarized zone to prevent Russian troops from shelling Ukraine — the fighters of these formations explained that their mission, which took place on May 22. They managed to advance 10 km deep into Russia and occupy several settlements, including Kozinka and Gora-Podol. There have also been reports of advances in the direction of Grayvoron.

These messages caused a strong and panicked reaction in Russia. Traffic jams were observed in Belgorod as people sought to leave the city. The region declared a counter-terrorist operation and began evacuating residents from certain settlements. Presently, there are communication and internet issues. Additionally, there is information from Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence indicating an urgent evacuation from the Belgorod-22 facility, where nuclear tactical ammunition is stored, near Grayvoron.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense emphasized that the operation in the Belgorod region is being carried out exclusively by Russian citizens who can no longer tolerate Putin's aggressive policies and his regime. Andriy Chernyak, a Defense Intelligence representative, stated that they anticipated these developments and expect such actions to continue. Meanwhile, the Office of the President of Ukraine clarified that although they are monitoring the events in the Belgorod region, Ukraine is not directly involved.

Russia's response was predictable. They claimed that the purpose of Ukrainian sabotage is to divert attention from the situation in Bakhmut and minimize the political impact of its loss.

The situation in and around Bakhmut

There are currently significant changes taking place. Despite the presence of the Wagner fighters at the district center's administrative borders, the Ukrainian forces have achieved a clear operational victory in Bakhmut. Over the course of 10 months, the Russian troops have been unable to encircle the Ukrainian group, resulting in substantial losses of up to 100,000 personnel for the enemy. As a result, the enemy is now deploying reserves to the flanks and the city of Bakhmut to maintain control over the occupied territory and impede further advancement by Ukraine’s Armed Forces.

The objective for our troops now is to secure the commanding heights in the vicinity of Berkhivka to the north and Klishchiivka to the south. This strategic positioning will create conditions for effectively destroying the enemy forces both within Bakhmut and by severely disrupting their road supply routes. It appears that the situation is reminiscent of past events when our units defended the highway through Khromove and Ivanivske near Bakhmut.

According to Lieutenant Oleksandr Yabchanka, a member of the 67th separate mechanized brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and part of the "Da Vinci Wolves" battalion and "Honor" group, the roles of Ukrainian defenders and the enemy have now reversed. While the enemy occupies the city, the Armed Forces are exerting pressure on the flanks. Russian troops are experiencing greater difficulties on the flanks compared to before when they were pressuring us. They wanted Bakhmut, we will bury them in Bakhmut. 

Lieutenant Yabchanka emphasizes the importance of minimizing our own losses, as casualties occur even during the evacuation of our wounded comrades. The enemy targets us when they observe the evacuation process, often firing mortars. We have to be equipped with intelligence capabilities and advanced technologies. But we require efficient means of evacuation from the contact line to safeguard our troops. Manual evacuation of the wounded leaves us vulnerable to enemy artillery, as they monitor our movements from aerial platforms. To overcome these challenges, we need to change the rules of engagement. 

Yabchanka explained that a remote platform is needed to evacuate the wounded. There are already such developments. The device can remotely carry a fighter, and the one who accompanies him can be at a certain distance. Technological superiority will not only save lives but also enhance our ability to decisively defeat the enemy.

An optimistic development: F-16 transfer to Ukraine

Let's now shift our focus to another topic, as the supply of weapons to Ukraine continues to grow. We have reached an encouraging decision to transfer F-16 fighters. We are discussing the beginning of pilot training but it is evident that these aircraft will soon appear in the skies of our country, safeguarding our airspace.

Captain Oleksandr Los, a doctor of technical sciences and a member of the Armed Forces, expresses his optimism over Ukraine's acquisition of advanced US aircraft. He anticipates the future inclusion of F-15s as well. Our courageous pilots, who currently operate Su-27 and predominantly MiG-29 aircraft, have long awaited the "shoot and forget" capability in aerial combat. The F-16 offers precisely that, allowing pilots to employ weapons with this function without the obligation to continuously track the target on radar. Once the shot is fired, the pilot gains freedom of movement. Additionally, the F-16 serves a crucial role in ground operations.

Captain Los emphasizes the importance of not only acquiring the F-16, F-15, or Gripen platforms but also obtaining a wide array of weapons for both aerial and ground combat. A modern fighter's capabilities extend to air defense, anti-aircraft measures, and missile interception, as these aircraft serve as carriers for interceptor missiles. We can only hope that Ukraine will have access to a comprehensive selection of weapons.

He explains that while both the F-16 and F-15 are modern fourth-generation aircraft, the F-16 is slightly lighter in terms of missile and bomb load during takeoff. This suggests that the F-15 has a slightly higher safety margin.

Regarding the F-16 aircraft's control system, Captain Los highlights that it utilizes an electric remote control mechanism, eliminating the need for mechanical connections between the pilot's joystick and control surfaces. Instead, the controls are managed through wires. This system does impose certain limitations on pre-flight preparations, as it requires constant additional ground control. However, this should not pose a significant problem, as the Su-27 also features a similar electric remote control system, while the MiG-29 has a mechanical system.

The scientist emphasizes that despite some preconceived notions in the West, Ukraine is modern, and even more modern than leading Western specialists in some aspects.