Thread by @VolodyaTretyak

Fantastic interview about Kyiv, Kharkiv battles with a Ukrainian colonel Oleksandr Ohrimenko, commander of the 14th Mechanized Brigade named after Prince Roman the Great. Published by armyinform.com.ua

Text is also available at @wartranslated
wartranslated.com/colonelohrimen…

My translation:

(Interviewer): Where did the brigade encounter a full-scale invasion?

(Ohrimenko): At that time, the military unit was at the Rivne combined military training ground at the final stage of reconciliation. /1

We marched, having received appropriate combat orders to perform tasks in the Kyiv, Zhytomyr, and partially Volyn regions to cover the section of the state border.

(I): What were your words to the staff on February 24? /2

(O): Every day, going around the units, I emphasized in conversations with the personnel that we must be ready for any development of events - intelligence data also confirmed this. Therefore, everyone understood that we would have to fight in different conditions. /3

On the night of February 23-24, it was not necessary to say much: when I received the command to raise the brigade on a combat alert, only one word sounded - "It has begun!" [would be one word in Ukrainian] This was the signal by which we had to raise the personnel. /4

At that time, the brigade's plan and movement route had already been worked out. At 4 a.m., after units of the Russian army struck the territory of Ukraine, we began marching in the designated directions to carry out combat missions. /5

(I): The brigade then moved to Kyiv Oblast and Zhytomyr Oblast. How difficult was it? What tactics did you have to choose then, considering the fact that the enemy was superior in strength and means?

(O): Each war and each combat mission requires specific approaches. /6

We must approach everything individually. In our case, the difficulty was, first of all, the width of the defense front. In our case, it was about 300 km — instead of the 20 specified in the tactical regulations. /7

In addition, the march from the Rivne training ground on combat vehicles over such a long distance also required considerable personnel training. /8

We chose the following tactics: we used small mobile combat groups that could work from ambushes, inflict damage on the enemy, who outnumbered us by a ratio of one to twenty, or even to thirty, and advanced in large columns, battalion-tactical groups, entire regiments, and… /9

…divisions. It was a "pounce tactic" - two or three tanks, together with anti-tank means, including Javelins and NLAW, would destroy several units of enemy equipment and withdraw in another direction, and so on. /10

This allowed us to disperse the enemy's forces, to create panic among his personnel since the enemy did not understand where the next attack would come from. /11

Thus, we significantly reduced Russian units' combat potential, which thought they would march into Kyiv and establish their power there without fighting. In addition, the individual training of each service member played a significant role in our successful actions. /12

Each had his task and performed it with precision.

(I): At what moment did you realize that the enemy was fleeing from that direction? /13

(O): The turning point was when our brigade and units of the DShV [Ukrainian Air Assault Forces] took and held Makariv and Makariv district. Several advanced combat groups were operating in that direction, led, in particular, by my deputies. /14

Thanks to such actions, on the 51st kilometer of the Kyiv-Zhytomyr highway, the enemy suffered irreparable losses in manpower and equipment and was unable to advance further. /15

So, for example, one of our units, led by a platoon commander, destroyed more than 30 units of enemy equipment in a day around the village of Sytnyaki, and they did not even count how much manpower. /16

After our advanced groups, in which tank units played the main role, working in this direction, the brigade's main forces entered, completing the destruction of the enemy and pushing him to the state border. /17

In desperation, the Russians began actively, but chaotically, to use aviation to launch missile strikes on residential areas. This indicated that the enemy's personnel could not cope with the task despite the superiority in strength and equipment. /18

And this became the biggest motivation for our Princely Brigade! We are on our land and know what we are fighting for!

(I): During the large-scale invasion, your brigade fought against the Russians on several fronts. /19

Can you tell us how the nature of the battles in this or that region differs?

(O): Each battle has its character... You need to consider the peculiarities of the terrain, terrain, weather, and season. /20

We began to operate in the winter in the Kyiv and Zhytomyr directions - this is one specific feature. Then, the unit's path passed through the south of Ukraine. Then there were the Kharkiv, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions. Now — Kharkiv region again. /21

Therefore, the tactics of action, of course, change just as the enemy changes. For example, the regular Russian army has almost ceased to exist, and now it has been replaced by unprepared mobilized ones, which do not meet the requirements. /22

Therefore they are unable to complete the task.

(I): Do you always know which units of the RU army you are dealing with?

(O): Of course, our intelligence works perfectly. /23

I will tell you this - before entering the appropriate area and taking a defensive or offensive line, the scouts reveal the enemy's order of battle, in particular, the names of the commanding staff of companies, battalions, divizions, divisions, and armies. /24

We study the social portrait of each such official and draw certain conclusions.

(I): And how did the personnel of your Princely Brigade show themselves? What can you say about your subordinates? Perhaps there are examples of the bright, heroic behavior of warriors? /25

(O): There are many such examples! One of those I can cite is when a tank crew destroyed 12 enemy tanks during the seven months of the Russian invasion! I found out about it myself only recently. /26

I ask - "why didn't they tell?" To which I received the answer: "What is there to tell? I'm just doing my job. What difference does it make in how many tanks I destroy - three, five, eight, or twelve? I received a task, went out, and completed it." /27

Our warriors are heroic people who risk their lives and do not flaunt their achievements. They do their job perfectly! And I, in turn, will petition the higher command for the awards they deserve.

(I): Are there Heroes of Ukraine in your brigade? /28

(O): A separate mechanized brigade named after Prince Roman the Great during the period of the full-scale invasion has, perhaps, the largest number of Heroes of Ukraine. Twelve of our service members were awarded this honorary title. Unfortunately, posthumously... /29

(I): Let's talk about counteroffensive actions in the Kharkiv region about the role of your brigade in this operation... /30

(O): If we consider joint actions with other units and other components of the Security and Defense Forces, we cannot talk about any specific role of our brigade in the counteroffensive operation. /31

Everyone fights heroically and performs tasks in incredibly difficult conditions! /32

I always try to understand clearly, first of all for myself, the intention of the senior commander, the ultimate goal, the role and place of each of our units, and the possibility of changes during the execution of combat missions. /33

I am trying to predict the enemy's actions in this or that situation. I rely on the actions of my neighbors and units that support us in making decisions. During the last seven months, our brigade fought in six directions while defending only one and advancing on five. /34

I think that the particularity of our brigade consists precisely of offensive and assault actions in breaking through the defense of individual areas of the enemy, creating conditions for his encirclement. /35

(I): Purely hypothetically, how do you assess our offensive actions in Donbas?

(O): Everything depends on the enemy — composition, position, and balance of forces. It is possible to carry out tasks in any direction. /36

Still, the success of any operation depends on the availability of weapons and ammunition, preparedness and motivation of the personnel, tactics of the enemy, etc. - this is a systematic approach. /37

I do not undertake to assess the strategic situation in the entire operational zone, but I think that if we create the appropriate conditions and increase the combat potential, taking into account artillery and aviation, we can also talk about a counteroffensive in Donbas. /38

I can say with confidence that the command has this goal. But I will not tell you the details.

(I): Speaking of artillery, can you tell us about the help of our Western partners? Does your brigade have the latest weapons? /39

(O): Without going into details, I will say that our brigade received a sufficient number of the latest artillery equipment, which is currently successfully performing its tasks as part of the brigade artillery group. /40

The professional use of foreign weapons by the Princely artillerymen makes it possible to destroy the enemy's firing positions, conduct a counter-battery fight, and allow our infantry to advance and liberate Ukrainian lands. /41

(I): What is your motivation to continue the fight against the Russian aggressor?

(O): A rhetorical question... For me, this is a family... In a conversation with subordinates, I always say: "Your parents, your family can live in this house. /42

What are your actions if the enemy starts to punch a hole in the fence of your enclosure? I, for example, will fight!". Each of us must fight for our territories! /43

(I): What did you feel and think at the moment when the enemy began to retreat for the first time?

(O): What did I think about?... I was once again convinced that our army was powerful at that moment! /44

We, Ukrainians, are specific people — throughout history, someone has tried to enslave us. But all attempts failed the enemy, so victory in this war will be on our side! /45

In addition, by liberating the occupied territories, we made sure that the so-called second army of the world was just a PR! We convinced ourselves and the civilized world that we could defeat Russia, and we will do it! /46

And I, for my part, felt professional satisfaction - my subordinates successfully performed the assigned tasks.

(I): If you had the opportunity to personally address the President of Russia or the leadership of the RU army now, what would you say to them? /47

(O): I don't want to contact them; we have nothing to talk about… With any of them!
(I): Your appeal to Ukrainians...

(O): We will win! Soon! Hold on!

(I): Thank you very much for the conversation. /48

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