Brigade Commander Pavlo Palisa: "This year’s strategic task for Russian armed forces is to reach administrative border of Donetsk and Luhansk regions"

Author: Olha Moskaliuk

On May 10, Russians launched an active offensive in the Kharkiv region. Ukraine’s defense forces gave a fitting rebuff to the enemy and continue to destroy it. They are also holding their positions in Donbas, in particular in the Bakhmut direction, which has been difficult for a long time. The 93rd separate mechanized brigade "Kholodnyi Yar" is also fighting here. We were able to talk to its commander Pavlo Palisa about what is happening there.

- What is the current situation in your direction?

- The situation is difficult, but currently under control. The enemy is stepping up its efforts to create conditions for an assault on Chasiv Yar. It is conducting assault operations in many areas. Sometimes with the involvement and support of armoured vehicles, sometimes using the tactics of small groups. It is actively using drones of all kinds, including loitering munitions, in an attempt to bring out of operation the artillery of the Defense Forces and to find weaknesses. 

- In comparison, has the number of Russian attacks increased recently?

- I can speak for the direction for which the 93rd Brigade is responsible. Yes, it has increased. A few days ago (we're talking about 21 May - O.M.), the brigade's positions were assaulted 14 times in one day from five directions.

- How do you resist in such circumstances? How do you fight back?

- We inflict damage with all available means so that the enemy suffers maximum losses.

- And what is your situation with ammunition? Is the already announced aid from the United States coming?

- I think it is coming. But this is not a matter of my competence. As for the supply of ammunition, I will tell you this: I wish there was more of it.

- What about weapons and equipment?

- Small arms are available. Of course, we would like to have more of them. For now, it is enough. There is a need for certain team weapons, but not a critical one. It is formed primarily as a result of the ongoing hostilities.

When it comes to equipment, it all depends on the area in which a particular unit operates. Each of them has very different levels of equipment and needs. It depends on the intensity of hostilities in the area of its defence, as well as in which areas and what tasks it performed during its previous deployment. At the moment, I would not say that there is a critical need for equipment. At least for the 93rd Brigade.

- The military, who are also fighting in the Bakhmut direction, report increased shelling with FABs and GABs - the enemy is firing them everywhere and constantly...

- I absolutely agree with this. I would also like to note that the enemy has begun to use unmanned aerial systems, loitering munitions, FPV, and guided aerial bombs more intensively against targets deep in the defences of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

- Do they attack all the time - day and night?

- Yes. The enemy is now aiming to complicate the work of the Ukrainian artillery, focusing its efforts on destroying artillery munitions, detecting and eliminating reconnaissance and electronic warfare stations. In this way, it is trying to create conditions that will make it easier for infantry units to advance.

- The commander of a tank company of the Rubizh brigade, which is also in the Bakhmut direction, told me that the Russians are now even assaulting on buggies and motorcycles...

- That's right. They use buggies and motorbikes as a means of rapidly delivering their assault infantry to the front line of the defence forces. It is a highly manoeuvrable vehicle that is a difficult target for anti-tank weapons. The speed of its movement makes it difficult for artillery of various calibres to work on it, etc. This tactic was initially successful, but thanks to explosive and non-explosive engineering barriers that can be installed remotely, it is possible to counteract it.

- But assaults on such vehicles are dangerous. Obviously, there is a high probability of dying. Do the Russians not take this into account?

- If we compare an infantry fighting vehicle and a buggy, the time of assault operations on a particular vehicle, as well as the terrain on which it takes place, plays a big role. Some areas have "dead zones" where the enemy manages to slip through because they are inaccessible to our weapons. On buggies and motorcycles, the advantage is speed. Yes, the disadvantage here is the lack of armour. Armoured vehicles and infantry fighting vehicles have it, but they are limited in mobility. Plus, they can't go over every terrain. Therefore, it all depends on the area, the enemy's training, and where he expects our weapons to be used, which can destroy these objects, and where he thinks the defence is weaker, so we should try to increase our efforts there. Generally speaking, buggies and motorcycles are used for rapid reconnaissance in combat. In other words, these highly mobile vehicles are primarily used for manoeuvre, not defence.

- Has this tactic been used before?Or is it new?

- I don't remember them using it in our brigade's defence area before. But I think this has been happening since the beginning of this year. Perhaps it was used in other areas before, but now it has become more widespread.

-We have often talked about the so-called "meat assaults" that Russians have been conducting in the Bakhmut direction. Do they continue them now?

- I would outline this situation a little differently. The enemy is engaging more and more personnel in offensive actions and assaults. In my opinion, this is due to the timing of the tasks, pressure from the command to accelerate the advance and achieve the expected result in a particular area of the frontline. However, I would like to point out that despite the fact that the enemy is massively using equipment and a large number of personnel in certain areas, it is still learning and trying to be more cautious, trying out various algorithms and schemes for the use of its units, and increasing measures to mislead the Ukrainian Defence Forces during the preparation and conduct of combat operations. So I'm not sure that we can talk about "meat assaults" right now, although they are taking huge losses. But we are ready to step up our efforts - we have the resources to do so. I am not a fan of underestimating the enemy.

- If they are building up their forces, can we say that they are preparing for a new powerful offensive, as announced by the president?

- I think so. I believe that this year's strategic objective for the Russian armed forces is to reach the administrative border of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and capture such important cities as Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka. In order to achieve this goal, they are currently trying to create conditions, in particular for the assault on Chasiv Yar, to secure flanks to block the city and then capture it. This will create conditions for the development of an offensive on Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Druzhkivka and Kostiantynivka.

- Is that why there was such an active offensive in the Kharkiv region? Did they want to draw our forces away from there?

- This is because the enemy is trying to increase the number of hotspots along the frontline, to draw our reserves away from other areas and, if possible, to try to secure a tangible success somewhere. Perhaps they hoped to trigger a "domino effect" in our defence with this offensive in Kharkiv region, but we see that this has not happened so far.

- Fortunately. To counter them, we need to increase our resources, including human resources. The new law on mobilisation has come into force. Do you have any hopes for it?

- Of course! I am glad that the law has finally been passed. Although I understand that it is not perfect and not everyone is happy with it. Nevertheless, it can be further improved. But mobilisation can already work under it.

- We, Ukrainians, should be as united as possible at such times. But even in the information space, we see a rather ambiguous situation. People's Deputy from the Servant of the People faction Mariana Bezuhla criticised the military command, in particular Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. How do you feel about such public manifestations?

- It is not the business of the military to comment on politicians. I have never done that. I do not consider it worthy of a military man. Moreover, with the enemy threatening us, there is no time and no desire for such things. I would not comment now, but I am concerned why so many politicians are interfering in military affairs. And not with a desire to help, but with an attempt to create some kind of discord. In general, the situation looks like déjà vu: there must be some kind of well-established scheme that worked before and there is hope that it will work now. I believe that politicians should be engaged in political affairs, including elaborating laws that are so necessary today to maintain and strengthen the country's defence capability, rather than trying to comment on military issues. Firstly, this is not entirely fair. Because in order to do this, you need to have a specialised education and some experience. Secondly, the military has limited capabilities to protect itself from such things. So I think it's not quite right and it works more for the enemy than for the defence of the country.

Olha Moskaliuk, Censor.NET