10 years of Rubizh
The path from several dozen motivated volunteers who set out to establish the first combat unit of the National Guard of Ukraine in line with NATO standards, to one of the most effective formations within the Defense Forces.
Stanytsia Luhanska. Mariupol. The Svitlodarsk Bulge. Kyiv and the Kyiv region. Luhansk region: Trokhizbenka, Sievierodonetsk, Rubizhne, Lysychansk. The Kharkiv counteroffensive. The battle for Bakhmut. Lyman. Siversk. Pokrovsk.
Over 1,239 soldiers have been awarded orders and medals, 260 of them posthumously. Sixteen have received the title of Hero of Ukraine, fourteen of them posthumously.
The documentary "The First to Do It This Way" tells the story of the formation and key battles of the 4th Operational Brigade named after Hero of Ukraine Serhii Mykhalchuk — "Rubizh" — through the eyes of its soldiers and commanders.
Their story began ten years ago.
Stanytsia Luhanska (2016–2017). Mariupol (2016). The Svitlodarsk Bulge (2019–2020). Kyiv and the Kyiv region (2022).
Luhansk region — Trokhizbenka, Sievierodonetsk, Rubizhne, Lysychansk (February–June 2022).
The Kharkiv counteroffensive (September–October 2022).
The battle for Bakhmut (2022–2023). Lyman. Kupiansk. Siversk and Pokrovsk (2024–2025).
The combat path of the brigade is defined by the actions of its soldiers and commanders, fighting for Ukraine and writing its history at the cost of their lives.
Since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, 1,239 servicemembers of the brigade have been awarded Ukrainian orders and medals, 260 of them posthumously.
As of today, 15 servicemembers of the brigade have received the title of Hero of Ukraine — 13 of them posthumously.
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Colonel Serhii Sydorin, Commander of the 4th Brigade of the National Guard "Rubizh". It’s a truly moving moment — an officer who was among those who helped establish this unit is now its commander. It’s been a long path. So both looking back to the beginning and now, at this 10-year mark, we can look, through your eyes, at how Rubizh was created, what makes this military unit stand out, the path it has taken across different directions, and what the brigade represents today. So, please tell us — what happened ten years ago? How did the "Rubizh" Brigade begin?
SERHII SYDORIN, COMMANDER OF THE 4TH OPERATIONAL BRIGADE NAMED AFTER HERO OF UKRAINE SERHII MYKHALCHUK — "RUBIZH": The brigade was established ten years ago, in May 2015, on the 25th. A command staff group of officers was assigned, and a recruitment campaign was launched to enlist volunteers into the brigade, across all categories, from soldiers to officers. Everyone who wanted to serve, everyone who wanted to test themselves, was invited to join.
The concept behind the brigade was a sound decision, based on the experience of 2014, which showed that our country needs a combat-ready unit that could respond rapidly to threats of terrorism, separatism, external aggression, and destabilizing factors anywhere in Ukraine. The country’s leadership and military command made the decision to establish the brigade — at the time referred to as a rapid response unit — under military unit number 3018.
Journalist: I first heard about you during some of the National Guard’s earliest combat operations near the Russian border. Could you tell us about your experience — how did you meet the year 2014, and what role did you play in those early engagements?
Soldier: With my unit, we were carrying out stabilization operations in the city of Donetsk. This was back in April 2014. We witnessed the rise of separatism. We saw both pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian rallies. We saw how the Donetsk Regional Administration was seized.
One day, our unit was put on high alert. We were deployed to the town of Sloviansk. Our task was to man checkpoints — to prevent that filth, which at the time had taken over the area, from spreading further into Ukrainian territory. That was on June 13, 2014.
At that point, I was already serving as deputy battalion commander, but I was performing the duties of the deputy commander of Checkpoint No. 1. It was known as "Rybkhoz." Located near the village of Myrne, on the outskirts of Sloviansk.
Around June 25, the media reported that Russian tanks had entered the settlement. On June 26, the following day, civilians stopped passing through the checkpoint. The entire area was completely blocked off — no movement, nothing at all. Just silence. And we could hear the rumble of vehicles about three kilometers away. At around 6 p.m., we came under mortar fire — and then direct fire from tanks.
Journalist: It’s important to mention this — the emotions are understandable. This was, in fact, the enemy’s first tank assault in the entire Russian-Ukrainian war. It was the first time Russian tanks were brought into Sloviansk, and the first time they were used in combat. None of our servicemen had seen enemy tanks before that, let alone come under a tank assault.
Soldier: My first command during the shelling was: "To battle!"
The tanks advanced alongside infantry. Our soldiers opened fire with small arms. The infantry immediately dropped to the ground and didn’t continue their advance. I personally observed that the enemy troops weren’t wearing body armor or helmets. Maybe it was a feint. Maybe they were probing to see which direction they could break through, push forward, or take prisoners — and then showcase it to the world.
It was my first real firefight, seeing the enemy up close. Tunnel vision. Hands shaking. Then I saw the side profile of the tank — just 35 meters from our position. It was moving sideways, straight down the middle of the checkpoint, cutting it in half, so to speak. The tank fired, not even really aiming. And then it stopped.
I think we landed a hit — under the turret, along the side. Around that time, another tank — the one on overwatch, covering me, we were working in a pair — fired a shot. I had already rushed into a concrete shelter. That second tank fired at the shelter. That’s how I got wounded — by shrapnel from the tank round. That’s when I realized something: a commander shouldn’t jump into the fight himself. It’s good for morale, sure. But the commander’s main job is coordination.
Journalist: You previously held the position of deputy battalion commander. Did you take a lower position in the new unit, Rubizh, becoming a company commander?
Soldier: Yes. I served as deputy commander of a special forces battalion.
I joined as the 54th man — a company commander. Platoon commanders were appointed, and I had eight soldiers under my command. That was our first company of the 1st Battalion, 4th Brigade.
Alongside us in the 1st Company was our battalion commander. At that time, it was Colonel Ihor Hryhorovych Obolienskyi, who is now the commander of the Khartiia Corps. His deputies, psychologists, company commanders — all were present at the training grounds. Everyone was involved. The battalion commander worked alongside us, you could say, directly in formation. The entire battalion leadership started from scratch, with the basics, and gradually scaled up. You know, officers of all levels shared the same food as the enlisted personnel. We held daily debriefings. Everyone — from the battalion commander to the privates — participated in morning physical training, including marches and endurance runs. It was about cohesion... debriefings. And the nationalist’s prayer. So the people...
Journalist: Was the nationalist’s prayer part of the routine back in 2016?
Soldier: Yes, yes. We placed strong emphasis on patriotic training — something I personally hadn’t encountered in that format before. And people believed in the idea. Everyone in the brigade joined voluntarily. No one was forced in.
There were officers from a nuclear power plant. There were officers who had just completed their master’s degrees and came straight from civilian life. Some came from the National Police. In fact, many volunteers came from civilian backgrounds, but not all of them made it into our unit. At that time, to join the brigade, you had to pass a 3- to 5-day selection course. And there were cases where, out of 70 applicants, only around 15 were admitted. The rest failed the selection.
RAPTOR, SENIOR SERGEANT OF THE SNIPER COMPANY OF THE 4TH OPERATIONAL BRIGADE NAMED AFTER HERO OF UKRAINE SERHII MYKHALCHUCK "RUBIZH": We were told this was the first selection where Kapa wasn’t involved. And in our brigade, Kapa was a big name. He was the guy — the top figure — the former senior sergeant of the 1st Operational Battalion. Later, Kapa became the senior sergeant of the Khartiia Brigade. Unfortunately, he was killed. So when they said this was the first selection without Kapa — that he was sidelined because apparently, over the course of a year, out of 2,000 candidates only about 200 got through because of him — I was like, "Whoa, they removed that guy... okay, let’s see how this goes." My goal was to get into the brigade. As soon as we arrived, they told us straight up: "You’ll be doing the Cooper test now. Anyone who fails it — you're not even coming with us to the training grounds. You're going straight home."We had to finish within 3 minutes. I did it in 2 minutes 20 seconds. That’s a solid result. Naturally, I felt a bit proud of myself but not for long.
They gave us entrenching tools, which we had to attach to our belts. We were told this was now our weapon — and we were never to be without it. The weapon must always be in hand. The thing is, I didn’t have a belt, so I had to run around holding the shovel in my hand until I found some rope and just tied it on. Then we were introduced to Buratino. He was our "wounded comrade" — a massive log, ridiculously long and thick, and we had to carry it everywhere. I think the only exceptions were when we needed to use the toilet or go to the mess hall. The rest of the time, the log was always with us.
When they walked into our tent and saw the log lying on the floor, they’d kick us out immediately. Then the countdown would start — we had something like 30 seconds. And in those 30 seconds, all 24 of us had to run out of the tent, drop down into a push-up position, follow the next command, and wait for whatever was coming next.
Then they put us through a serious workout — easily a hundred reps of something brutal. And only afterward did they explain. "Do you know why you were being punished?" Nope. We didn’t. We didn’t know their rules. And they said: "Because you laid your wounded comrade, bleeding out, on the cold floor." And we were like, God, what assholes we are… But for us, it was just a log. So yeah, we got it. We learned our lesson. From then on, the log had its place — we laid it out across all the beds, and there it was, just one log, taking up maybe six bunks.
YUDZHYN, COMMANDER OF THE SNIPER COMPANY OF THE 4TH OPERATIONAL BRIGADE NAMED AFTER HERO OF UKRAINE SERHII MYKHALCHUCK "RUBIZH":
We had just arrived at our tent camp on the training ground and unloaded. A command was given — we had a set amount of time to unpack, settle in, take our spots, then line up for formation. They were going to brief us on what we’d be doing — for the day, the week, the general plan. Squad leaders and platoon sergeants were to be involved in planning and coordination — something along those lines. I remember we went to grab a quick bite in the mess hall. I was walking and talking with a buddy, but didn’t notice that he slipped into the tent, and I just kept going — between the tents, heading toward the smoking area. And as I’m walking and talking, I get stopped. I look up — and it’s the senior sergeant of the battalion staring straight at me. And right away I know something’s wrong. I turn my head — and yeah... I get it. Whatever I say now, it’s only going to make things ten times worse. So that was it. Our whole squad was put on alert, geared up, and we were made to run around screaming: "I will never walk alone again!" That’s how my basic training started.
As punishment, if you messed up somewhere, your whole platoon could be made to go to the toilet together.
HARVEST
RECONNAISSANCE MAN - SNIPER OF THE RECONNAISSANCE PLATOON OF THE "RUBIZH" BRIGADE (FEBRUARY - JUNE 2022)
We had foreign instructors — from Israel, the U.S., the U.K., and France. We gradually absorbed their experience. Knowledge saves lives — that’s a fact.
RAPTOR, SENIOR SERGEANT OF THE SNIPER COMPANY OF THE 4TH OPERATIONAL BRIGADE NAMED AFTER HERO OF UKRAINE SERHII MYKHALCHUCK "RUBIZH": I felt pure happiness from feeling like a truly strong man. And I realized — we were the first in the entire country doing this.
SIDORYN: Very few military units could afford training like that. We dreamed of getting to the line of contact — to prove ourselves, to show what we had learned.
SVITLODARSK BULGE, 2019-2020
SERHII SYDORIN: In 2019–2020, we were carrying out combat missions in the Svitlodarsk Bulge as part of the Armed Forces’ units. We operated jointly with one of the brigades.
Journalist: What does that period mean to you personally? What kind of experience did you take away from it?
YUDZHYN: Experience — it’s simply being in the combat zone. That alone had a psychological and emotional impact on the soldiers.
My longest shot was, I think, 695 meters. Today, a lot of snipers would say that’s a short distance — and they’d be right, it’s not that far. And my target was almost full-height. But back then, when everyone was constantly hiding, crawling through trenches, and you actually managed to catch someone — that was a big deal.
ROGER, COMPANY COMMANDER of the RUBIZH Brigade (2022-2023): The line of contact, depending on the area, was anywhere from 70 to 300 meters from the enemy.
And you walk around, watching how they’re building up over there. And then, like what happened to me — they hit the position with an MT-12. From a Rapira, just… obliterated it. Leveled it to the ground. And are you just going to stand there and watch that happen? No way.
HARVEST, COMBAT TRAINING INSTRUCTOR OF THE RUBIZH BRIGADE:
We messed up the bastards — hard. And they called in a sniper group on us. We had two wounded. One of them was my brother-in-arms, Dobrynia. The first sniper got him in the back — right through the firing slit. It was a tough evacuation. Thank God he made it, he survived, we got him out. And a week later — damn — the same sniper team shot me.
But the thing is, they weren’t aiming at me. They were targeting another comrade of mine, a good friend — Sokol. We were improving our position — doing some engineering work — and the snipers spotted us. They aimed at him, missed, and hit a log beam instead. And the round ricocheted off the beam — as we say in the military, I got hit by an "iron." The bullet bounced off and went straight into my side. That took me out of action for a year. Compared to what’s going on in the war now — that was kindergarten.
FULL-SCALE INVASION, FEBRUARY, 2022
Journalist: Could you tell us about the lead-up to the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022?
Sydorin: At the start of the war, I was the commander of the 2nd Operational Battalion in our brigade. I had been in that position since 2018. Our brigade received a combat order — to deploy to the east, to Luhansk region, in order to reinforce one of the brigades already carrying out missions there.
Journalist: Do you recall the exact date that happened?
Soldier: We received the combat order in January.
Journalist: Was no one surprised? I mean, I wanted to ask — your brigade was supposed to defend Hostomel and carry out tasks there.
Soldier: Well, we didn’t even suspect there would be a war. For us, it was just another deployment to what was then called the first line. There was no official information at all. We formed a fairly powerful battalion tactical group — reinforced, all contract soldiers, all combat-ready units. About 90% of our armored capability — tanks, artillery systems, other combat vehicles — all of that went east.
Journalist: When did you deploy to the Luhansk region?
Soldier: Our last tank rolled off the final train carriage — that was in the city of Rubizhne. It unloaded at 3 a.m. on February 24, 2022.
Journalist: Right before the invasion?
Soldier: Right before.
Journalist: One important question. Many people are asking, "Where was the Rubizh Brigade, which was based in Hostomel, at the time of the attack?" What forces remained? What kind of forces were left in Hostomel itself? What was actually there?
Soldier: At that time, what remained in Hostomel was a company of conscripts, a group of command officers who handled the unit’s daily operations and administrative tasks, and a security detachment guarding the military base. All combat-ready personnel — those who had trained for years and served under contract — had already been deployed to the east.
What was left were a little over a hundred conscripts with small arms… just over a hundred conscripts armed with rifles. There was also one air defense and artillery platoon, that included a few ZU-23-2 anti-aircraft guns and several Igla MANPADS. And that’s it.
A journalist: Is that all?
Soldier: Apologies — there were also two more guns.
FARA, AIR DEFENSE PLATOON COMMANDER: Before the full-scale invasion, we used to joke that we were the most useless troops — because nothing was flying, nothing was happening. We’d just walk around studying the technical specs of our gear, thinking we’d never actually use it.
Journalist: So before February 24, you hadn’t fired a single real missile?
Soldier: Not a live one, no. We only practiced with mock-ups — like general-purpose simulators for the Igla MANPADS. We’d just use the training launcher. And then suddenly — I open a box and go, "Oh wow — this one’s actually real."
Soldier: There was a ton of money just lying in that box — you look at the missile and imagine an apartment in Kyiv (laughs). Then you just close the box, grab the mock-up, and keep marching across the training ground with it. That’s it.
Since our brigade was considered a rapid response unit, it was normal for us. No one was particularly surprised when we got called to high alert — everyone understood it was just another combat training drill. It was routine for our unit, part of honing our skills.
Then at some point, they told us: "You’re deploying for 24/7 guard duty at Antonov State Enterprise." I don’t remember the exact date — maybe the 18th or somewhere close to the 24th. So we deployed to Antonov with a combined company tactical group and just sat there — each of us at our assigned position.
And we just kept sitting there… until February 24, when the helicopters came flying in.
It was around 3 or 4 in the morning. I was supposed to go get some rest — another soldier was going to take over my shift.
I was just sitting there. The rotation had just happened — the new shift went out to their positions, and the guys from the previous shift returned. I got behind the wheel of the vehicle, rested my head on the steering wheel, thinking I’d catch a break. Suddenly, the shift that had just gone out started shouting that something fast had flown overhead — and there’d been a massive explosion in Kyiv. I got out, looked around — and there it was again, something flying over Kyiv. Another pass, more explosions. That’s when it hit us: Kyiv was under attack. It had started. An assault — from every direction. I immediately got everyone up and sent them to their positions. No one really understood what was happening — Kyiv was being bombed, and we thought helicopters might follow, or ground troops…
I reported via radio that I could hear helicopters. The response I got was, "There are no helicopters in the sky right now — if you hear anything, maintain visual surveillance."
So we moved out to the highest point we could find to spot anything incoming — and that’s when, from the direction of Belarus, I saw helicopters skipping over a treeline. One. Then another. A third. A fourth. I started counting them...
Journalist: With binoculars or just by eye?
Soldier: With my own eyes — they were already way too close to us.
Good thing they were flying Ka-52s. I didn’t hesitate — I shouted, "Open fire on enemy aircraft!" Only later, maybe the next day or the day after, it hit me: if they’d been flying Mi-24s or Mi-8s, I might have let them pass straight to the airfield.
Journalist: Why’s that?
Soldier: Because only Russia has Ka-52s in service — no one else does. They threw everything they had at us in the first days — all their best gear. They wanted to show off their so-called "second-best army in the world" — to make a statement in one massive blow. And that "massive blow" fell flat in the second second of the war.
First, second — they reach us. Second second — they get their asses kicked. That’s it. They realized their "might" burns and crashes just like anything else.
Journalist: So you fired the first shot. How close was that helicopter to you? What went through your head in that split second before you made the call?
Soldier: I saw six of them. While I ran to grab a missile and came back, they had split into two groups — three helicopters each, flying in from two different directions. There was a concrete road near the Antonov plant, and I ran out onto it. I saw them flying straight at me, dead on. So I crouched low, (smiles) holding the missile, just standing there, staring them down. And he kept getting closer and closer. I knew that, according to all the official protocols, the target needs to be at least 500 meters away — otherwise, the missile won’t have time to lock on and will just miss. And I could tell — he was too close. So I just ducked. And he flew right over me. Big bastard, too. Massive. Flew right over. I turned around and fired at him from behind.
Shot him in the back… like a coward. (laughs) And the first thought that hit me was: why the hell didn’t he shoot me? Why didn’t he take me out? What did I do or not do that made him spare me? Thank God he did, of course, but that thought still haunts me to this day. Why?
Journalist: But he saw you, right?
Soldier: Yeah, he saw me clearly. And he was armed — machine guns, a 30mm cannon... He didn’t even need to waste a missile on me. One press of a button or pedal, or whatever they use and I’d have been ground meat. Maybe he thought I wouldn’t shoot, that I got scared and would run.
Journalist: So how many helicopters did your group shoot down that day?
Soldier: Six.
Journalist: And how many did you personally take out?
Soldier: Two. We held them back. Gave the country's defense forces time to deploy in formation around Hostomel and stop the enemy from pushing forward.
It may sound a bit grand, but I think we became a small yet powerful shield in the defense of our capital.
I mean, at the brigade level — I believe I was the first National Guardsman from the Rubizh Brigade to take down two helicopters. Actually, we were the first brigade to go into battle on two fronts simultaneously. And one of them was the defense of Kyiv Region — with 60% conscripts, no less — and we were taking down enemy aircraft. I think that’s a hell of a checkmark for our brigade.
LUHANSK REGION, TROKHIZBENKA VILLAGE, FEBRUARY 2022
ROGER, COMPANY COMMANDER, RUBIZH BRIGADE (2022-2023):
On the 25th, the enemy completely broke through the line of defense. Where we had been carrying out our task — they broke through from three directions: from the left flank, the center, and the right. In total, they rolled out against us with around three mechanized battalions and one tank battalion. They crossed the Siverskyi Donets River using pontoon bridges and, already on armored vehicles, entered the fight directly and basically surrounded our units.
HARVEST, INSTRUCTOR OF COMBAT TRAINING, "RUBIZH" BRIGADE: We got hit hard that first day… real hard. We held out for five days, basically… The problem was, we didn’t even know where the front line was. There was no clear separation line — we didn’t know where the enemy was, where our forces were. It was… yeah, it was tough.
Journalist: How did you realize you were encircled?
HARVEST: Those f*ckers were everywhere. Their equipment was all over. Zs, Vs. And we… well, just so you understand, when there’s no comms with the commanders — everything you’ve ever learned, you start making decisions and running the show based on your own gut. That’s what makes it tough. No water, no food. We were encircled in three rings. They sealed us off fast. That blitzkrieg of theirs worked. I gotta give it to them, those first few days, they really did their job. But we reshuffled our troops, learned from it. The takeaway? You don’t give up. Ever.
Journalist: How long did it take you to get out of the encirclement?
HARVEST: Five days and six nights.
Yeah, it was tough going. On the third day, I ditched my plates, my back just couldn’t take it anymore. The ballistic plates, I mean, just threw them out. Then I dumped all my ammo too. Kept only my rifle and a single mag, just in case.
I managed to link up with my group. I had a radio and a phone. I was navigating using Google Maps.
ROGER, COMPANY COMMANDER, "RUBIZH" BRIGADE (2022–2023):
Some of them covered 70 kilometers. Others — 120. Through forests and tree lines, all on foot. Some made it out in three days, others in five. The longest was seven days — Serhii, callsign "Prapor", at the time. I think his group was the biggest — 17 people.
But how can you help them in this situation?
I helped them earlier when they were walking around the training ground for almost a year, where every time they came to a point, I gave them the coordinates of another point on the radio and they walked through what they had walked through.
They looked very... very tired. Very tired. It's okay - they slept, they ate... Give me a machine gun - one of the first words of Prapora was "Give me a machine gun".
HARVEST, COMBAT TRAINING INSTRUCTOR OF THE RUBIZH BRIGADE:
The commander came out and met us personally—well, met our group. I just sat down next to the vehicle and started crying—completely overwhelmed, couldn’t stop. They handed me a cigarette, but my hands were shaking so badly it fell. I picked it up off the ground and lit it again. One of the guys—my brother-in-arms—says: "Here, take another cigarette." I go: "Man, we were just drinking water from the swamp, melting snow to survive, so whether this cigarette fell on the ground doesn’t really matter." I sat there thinking: the price of life is a single cigarette. Why? Because life isn’t worth anything out there.
When we came back, we were dealing with trench foot—you know, that trench disease of the legs.
But then, after around seven days, when we were near Sievierodonetsk, I pulled myself together, walked up to the company commander, and said: "Give me a platoon—we’ll keep fighting."
Roger: The main objective of defense is to destroy the enemy’s offensive potential. That’s exactly what we were doing.
They kept advancing—we held our ground. We wore them down. That’s what led to a fairly effective counteroffensive in 2022.
I saw the enemy assault groups with my own eyes—groups starting from 20 men. They would come at us—we’d hit them. They’d go down, and more would follow. There were about 7–8 such assaults a day.
KYIV, February 2022, Svoboda battalion
ANDRII ILLIENKO, DEPUTY COMMANDER OF THE SVOBODA BATTALION, RUBIZH BRIGADE:
The Svoboda Battalion was formed at the very beginning of the full-scale invasion as an entirely volunteer unit. As of February 24, 2022, only a handful of members had prior military experience. That included the battalion commander, Petro Kuzyk, and several fighters who had served with him in the Karpatska Sich Battalion during the war in Donbas starting in 2014.
At that time, the battalion took part in the battles to defend Kyiv. Those were the engagements on the left bank, in the Baryshivka area—villages around Baryshivka. The other part of the front was on the right bank—Bucha, Irpin, and Hostomel.
Units of the battalion—still a volunteer formation at that point—took part in the battles for Irpin and were involved in the liberation of Irpin, Bucha, and Hostomel. The battalion was among the first to enter these newly liberated areas.
Eventually, the battle for Kyiv ended in victory. The Russians were pushed back from the capital. Kyiv held. And then came the question: what next?
From that point on, the battalion became part of the Rubizh Brigade, forming its 3rd Battalion—Svoboda. Later, a 4th Battalion was also created: the Power of Freedom Battalion.
Rubizhne – Sievierodonetsk – Lysychansk, February–June 2022
Journalist: We’d like you to speak about the role of the Rubizh Brigade’s tactical battalion group during the initial phase of the full-scale invasion. In which directions was it deployed? Let’s start with the significance of the battles for Rubizhne, where your unit was deployed right away.
Sydorin: The battles for Rubizhne are a defining chapter in the history of our brigade. That’s where our reputation was forged—where the foundation of our brigade was laid. Everything our fighters had been trained for—all of it came into play there. Everyone—from privates to commanders—showed their best. The city of Rubizhne had no other units holding the line. There was no established defense in place.
Journalist: How did this happen? After all, the very name "Rubizh" was first introduced in Rubizhne. It was a tactical decision by the command of the Operational Tactical Group "North," led by General Krasilnikov, to form a tactical group called "Rubizh," tasked specifically with the defense of Rubizhne. The group was placed under the command of the battalion tactical group from the 4th National Guard Brigade. There were only two such cases during the war. In Mariupol, the Azov Regiment assumed command of the city’s defense and all other units were subordinated to it. In Rubizhne, everything was subordinated to the BTG of the 4th National Guard Brigade. Why did that happen?
Soldier: In the first two days of the war, our units were engaged in combat near Troitske and Shchastia, and we demonstrated solid organization. General Krasilnikov saw what we were capable of. Structurally, we were very well-formed—strong, you could say.
We had an artillery battery. We had a tank company. We had an anti-aircraft artillery battery. We had three fully staffed infantry companies. We had an established command structure. The commander was exactly where he needed to be.
We also had our own aerial reconnaissance. Each infantry unit had its own assets. The artillery units were equipped with Mavic-type drones at the time. We also had a reconnaissance unit—"On Wings"—which back then included Leleka and Valkyrie drones, capable of conducting deep-area recon up to 10 kilometers.
What do you recall about the battles for Sievierodonetsk?
Soldier: It all started with the "Myr" Hotel. The enemy took control of the building and fortified their position there. The hotel was heavily reinforced—almost impossible to destroy with artillery alone. From there, they began advancing slowly, building by building, amassing forces and pushing deeper into the city. Some of our units were already worn out. But we got the opportunity to rotate one of our companies out for regrouping.
After the fighting in Rubizhne ended, a volunteer unit joined us. They had arrived as part of the civic organization "Svoboda." They replaced one of our companies and held the line. They came in strong—took up the defensive positions and held the northern flank, the northern edge of the city. They were learning quickly. Compared to our regular units, of course, it felt different—but their motivation was intense. They delivered the results we needed.
By summer 2022, they had become a fully formed, trained, and motivated battalion. From the Rubizhne side, they began holding their assigned sector—urban warfare again, but this time in a larger city, with a massive industrial plant.
Journalist: Sievierodonetsk.
There were four bridges there, and the Siverskyi Donets River had a fast, wide current. One by one, the bridges were destroyed—first one, then another, until all four were gone. All supplies for the units stationed there had to be delivered by raft or boat. Evacuating the wounded was done the same way. It was brutal... and many people showed their true character in those conditions.
CHEKH, RECONNAISSANCE SCOUT–SAPPER, RECONNAISSANCE PLATOON, RUBIZH BRIGADE (2022–2023):
I was directly part of the reconnaissance unit.
One of our first engagements was during the battles for Rubizhne. We were stationed on the eastern side of the city—there were about 13 of us: scouts and infantry. Around 7 a.m., the enemy began shelling our position with mortars. That lasted for a solid hour. We knew that after a mortar barrage, the next step would be a ground assault.
I went up to the fourth floor with a sniper. He set up his rifle and asked me to give him a shoulder for support. So I did. He looked through the scope and said, "I see a IFV." I’m thinking to myself, all right—we’ll take out one BMP. Then he says, "Another BMP." I go, okay—we’ll handle it. Two BMPs aren’t the end of the world. Then he says, "Infantry." I ask, "How many?" and he says, "A platoon—no, a company." I turn my head to take a look and see two tanks cresting a hill, stopping, and aiming right at us.
At that point, the enemy still didn’t know we were there. They were just moving forward. They figured it out about two minutes later—once we opened fire.
These were poorly trained conscripts, pulled together from the occupied areas of Donetsk and Luhansk. When we looked at them, we realized they weren’t even soldiers. These were people who had probably just put on uniforms the day before. They had old Soviet steel helmets, cloth pouches that probably dated back to the 1990s, and AKs. That was the extent of their gear.
We looked at them and honestly wondered whether we even needed to shoot. They looked like a 9th of May parade from 1945. But as soon as we opened fire, the enemy realized they were taking hits—but they still didn’t know from where. It took them a while to figure it out—by the time we had already mowed down a decent chunk of their force.
And once they realized our location, all hell broke loose. We were running through a building that was being shredded by a 30mm cannon from an IFV, along with supporting fire from two tanks.
We held them back for as long as we could, until we received the order to withdraw—by that time, we were nearly encircled. After the withdrawal, we did a headcount and realized four men were missing. We tried to reach them on comms, and they reported they were trapped inside a building—the tank fire had collapsed their exit.
We spent the whole night trying to get them out. They were stuck on the third floor, inside a small chapel, surrounded by enemy forces. The senior among them noticed that the enemy was setting up their battalion command post (CP) nearby. He radioed in the coordinates—his own—and called in artillery fire on his position.
That strike completely wiped out the CP. Around 20 to 30 pieces of equipment were destroyed. As for enemy personnel—we don’t even know how many were there. A captured company commander later told us about it in what you might call... colorful language.
Our guys sheltered where they could and waited for the barrage to end. Thanks to our artillery crews, who executed that strike with surgical precision, none of our men were hit.
Journalist: Wasn’t there a risk that they might not make it out alive?
Soldier: Yes. Unfortunately, yes. But what do you prioritize when you're surrounded? Your own life—which, honestly, might already be forfeit—or completing the mission so your brothers-in-arms have a chance to survive later? It’s a hard moral dilemma, but the fact remains. And when people make such decisions, it’s not just on them—it’s also the higher command, which either approves or doesn’t. But the men don’t do it lightly. They act with the understanding that, no matter how hard it is, the mission must be completed.
Journalist: Who was that? What was his callsign?
Soldier: His callsign was Skif.
They spent the entire night in that same chapel, as we fondly call it, praying—until morning came, and we were finally able to fully break them out. The whole team made it out of the encirclement.
Journalist: Tell us, what forces did the enemy throw at Rubizhne? What strength was used to attack the battalion tactical group?
Soldier: At first, we were facing two regiments—let’s call them that—from the so-called LNR. As for actual Russian troops, there were only artillery units. Everyone else were residents of Ukraine—or at least they used to be. These were people mobilized right before the war. Some hadn’t undergone any training at all. Others were given three days of prep and then sent straight into assaults against us.
It didn’t matter how many regiments or brigades were thrown at us—they kept replenishing, over and over again. There were also "Akhmat" units deployed against us.
Their tactics were brutal. They wouldn’t just shell our front-line positions—they would hit half a kilometer behind us, leveling buildings and infrastructure so that nothing remained but bare ground or scrap metal. Then they would send in their infantry—many with metal helmets, sometimes with body armor, sometimes without. An assault rifle and two magazines. Not even four. Just two.
And then this mass of people would charge us—either in chains or in full waves. They were cut down by small arms fire. Our infantry at the time was extremely solid.
DESNA, RECONNAISSANCE PLATOON COMMANDER, RUBIZH BRIGADE, HERO OF UKRAINE (2022–2023):
Take the left flank of Rubizhne, for example. When the enemy broke through between our positions and Kreminna, it was just eight scouts who held that line for an entire day—constantly relocating between firing positions. The enemy was just across the road, supported by tanks, BMPs, and artillery. But because of our constant movement, they couldn’t figure out how many of us there were. They assumed there were at least a platoon and a half, maybe two. Not just eight scouts running around, shooting from different angles.
There were a lot of captured weapons lying around—just all kinds of gear. I remember grabbing an RPK, slinging it over my shoulder, along with an old Soviet-style pouch that had four magazines. I emptied all four, dropped the RPK, picked up my rifle, and kept firing with that. We kept moving. We were doing things that, on paper, seemed ridiculous—but they worked.
At one point, there was a building we held and an enemy-held building across the road—maybe 35 meters between windows. We were literally exchanging fire from window to window. The enemy would move their assault groups along the walls and alleyways. Their tanks couldn’t get a clear shot at our position, so they just leveled their own building with tank fire—blew it up themselves to get a line of fire on us.
I had one of my scouts, Mykola "Raptor," on the left flank. His building caught fire. He was on the radio, and I told him, "Raptor, you can move only when your apartment starts burning." Until then—we hold the line.
One entrance of the building burned down completely. Then the upper floors caught fire. He radioed back, "The paint on my walls is starting to boil." But he held. He knew that if we pulled back from that building, the enemy would advance much more easily.
RAPTOR, SENIOR SERGEANT OF THE SNIPER COMPANY, 4TH RAPID RESPONSE BRIGADE NAMED AFTER HERO OF UKRAINE SERHII MYKHALCHUK "RUBIZH":
We had a few games going. The first one — guessing what caliber had just hit us. The second — obviously, keeping count of how many enemies each of us had taken out. Wait—scratch that, not just Russians. There were plenty of others too—Chechens, for example. So yeah, that was game two: who’d taken out the most enemies.
And game three was: who could rack up the most concussions. On that front, I can proudly say I took first place among the recon guys.
Didn’t quite win in the "enemy kills" category, though.
Oh, and then there was a fourth game. After Mr. Arestovych announced he’d gone on 33 combat missions behind enemy lines, we decided to beat his record. Unfortunately, I didn’t manage.
I only had 30 crossings behind the line. Missed four to show up to Arestovych and tell him he’d lost.
Our new group commander, though—if I’m not mistaken—made it to 36.
And then Yurii Butusov showed up and spent five hellish days with us.
In that second house we moved into—man, it was just hell. Not only were we getting hammered from the front—artillery, direct fire—we were also taking hits from tanks. A tank was parked right in front of our building, with another house between us. And every single day, we’d hear that tank shelling the building in front of us. That place was on fire 24/7.
By day three, I was already certain—we all were—that we wouldn’t be getting out of there alive.
After three days, I smelled so bad it made me sick. I took off my field jacket and combat shirt. I opened a wardrobe and saw two shirts hanging there—one black and one white.
Our team leader was also wearing a checkered dark blue shirt. I looked at the black shirt—it was too big for me—so I said to my buddy, "Here, Chekh, this one’s for you." He puts it on. Now there’s two of them in shirts. And I’m thinking, "Well, I don’t have anything that dark... but hey, there’s the white one." I look over and see a wedding photo standing nearby—a young guy, about my size back then. He’s wearing the same damn white shirt. And I think to myself, "Well, if this is it... then I’m going to Valhalla dressed for the occasion."
The guys knew I played music. They were like, "Raptor, play something." And then Butusov goes, "Wait, Raptor plays?" And the others go, "Yeah, he writes his own songs." He’s like, "Oh, damn. Alright, let’s go!"
I only realized he was filming me once he started asking questions. And there I am on camera, acting like a clown. But you know what? I love being like that. That’s when I feel alive. And yeah, I played one of my own songs.
Journalist: Shortly after that, you were awarded the title Hero of Ukraine. But you said you wanted to turn it down. Why?
Desna: When I was called in for the award, it was right from that same apartment where Yurii Butusov had filmed those videos. I was pulled out from that strongpoint—I actually have a video where we’re literally running through Sievierodonetsk just to reach an armored vehicle and get to Lysychansk. They called me in and said I had to report in the morning. So I requested an armored car, and we started running. Artillery fire all around, buildings burning. I thought maybe we were preparing for a counterattack, some maneuver, that reinforcements were coming, or that I had to coordinate artillery resupply or something important like that. But when I arrived, they were like, "Alright, Desna, we’re awarding you the title Hero of Ukraine." I said, "That’s what I ran through hell for?" Honestly, it got under my skin. I had just left my guys behind—and now I was here, for this? I didn’t want it. I just didn’t see the point. I really didn’t.
When I was presented the title of Hero of Ukraine, that was actually the first time President Volodymyr Zelenskyy came to the front line.
KHARKIV COUNTER-OFFENSIVE, SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2022 + MAP
RAPTOR: The Kharkiv counteroffensive is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. We had spent a year in the zone—in the area of operations—rotating between different directions. Every couple of weeks, we’d get pulled out for short rotations.
And during one of those rotations, we found out—we were pushing forward. The Ukrainian Army had launched an offensive on the Kharkiv axis. At the same time, there was pressure on the Kherson axis. Honestly, I didn’t expect it to unfold like that. I knew we’d eventually have to go on the offensive. That was clear. But I never thought it would happen like that—like a domino effect, one after another.
What role did the brigade play in this so-called Kharkiv miracle?
Together with adjacent units, we fully accomplished the mission assigned to us. The cities of Sviatohirsk, Yarova, Drobysheve, and Lyman were liberated—de-occupied.
BATTLES FOR BAKHMUT + MAP
Sydorin: I took command of the battalion tactical group in the fall of 2022—during the battles for Bakhmut. Before that, another BTG was holding the city itself. We rotated in to replace them so they could regroup and recover. Our task was to cover the southern part of the settlement. That’s when Wagner forces began advancing. It was a mass of Wagner units—convicts, contract fighters, foreign mercenaries, Africans... You name it, they had it. Massive artillery fire. They also had the first wave of drones capable of dropping explosives—those were already in regular use by Wagner at that point. This was an enemy where, out of ten, nine would die, and the tenth would still keep pushing forward until he was dead too. That’s the kind of enemy we were facing. Relentless. Ruthless. Difficult to stop.
Journalist: You commanded in the Bakhmut sector for a long time, including both Bakhmut itself and Kurdiumivka. Tell us about the battles for Kurdiumivka. In particular, the key high grounds in and around the village, which were under heavy assault by Wagner forces and later by regular Russian troops.
Soldier: Kurdiumivka, Andriivka, and Klishchiivka—those were the hotspots. From 2022 and into... not just summer, more like fall 2023—those battles were some of the toughest I’ve ever seen, and I was directly involved in them. Wagner was heavily engaged during the fighting for Kurdiumivka, at least for a certain period. Initially, we held positions forward of Kurdiumivka, closer to the enemy, near the Svitlodarsk–Bakhmut highway, right near the road. Later, we had to regroup behind the canal. Our task was to hold the line—to make sure the enemy couldn’t cross the canal and exploit their momentum, to stop them from pushing our forces back toward the Kostiantynivka–Bakhmut road. While our unit was holding that line, the enemy made no progress in our direction. They were taken out. Then came the phase where Wagner was withdrawn. Honestly, that was probably the most satisfying moment—Wagner wasn’t wiped out completely, of course, but the version of Wagner we had seen at the beginning of the Bakhmut battles—it was gone. Most of them were left lying in the fields and tree lines around Bakhmut and inside the city itself. After that, Russian conscripts took over. We destroyed them too—in large numbers. On average, we eliminated around 400 to 500 enemy personnel over a three-month period.
SKIF, COMPANY COMMANDER: The headquarters assigned us a task to retake a certain position. The troops moved to the staging point, where we were to begin the offensive operation. But we ran into a serious problem. The area was already swampy and unstable—and with the cold and constant rain, the guys ended up standing under freezing rain for four hours. Of course, that weakened them badly. Fevers started to hit, they were soaking wet—and there were still three more hours to wait before the assault, around dawn when the light breaks. They showed up at the CP—soaked, muddy, running fevers—and said, "We just can’t do it. We’re sick, we physically won’t make it. If the enemy opens fire, we’ll all be wiped out." So I made the call to go with them on the assault myself. I said, "Guys, this mission has to be completed no matter what. I don’t care how—warm yourselves up, get some sleep, make tea, get injections, do whatever you have to—but in three hours, we move." From what many of the soldiers told me afterward—that moment helped them pull themselves together. I moved out as part of the assault group. With us was Royce’s recon team—great guys, top-notch recon—who helped us reach the position. We inflicted fire damage on the enemy and began to push forward. We secured the position, cleared it, held it until evening, and then we were rotated out. That’s how it went. My friend and brother-in-arms Kraftor, who was later killed during the campaign in Spirne, told me—and so did many others—that the fact I joined the assault meant a lot to them. It really helped, even though people tried to talk me out of it. I remember Petro Mykolaiovych calling me, saying: "You’re a company commander, not a pack leader. What do you mean you're going on an assault?" I apologized and told him, "Sorry, I promised the guys I’d go with them." I don’t regret a single thing. Not one bit.
We’re fighting for our land. And above all, I’m fighting so that ten years from now, my child won’t have to see what I’ve seen. I don’t want my son to ever pick up a weapon in 10 or 15 years—I desperately don’t want that. I don’t want him to experience even 10–15% of what I’ve felt or seen. I don’t want him to know what it’s like to lose someone you shared your last rations with.
Journalist: How old is your son?
Skif: He’s 8 now. And I... I know his character. I know the kind of boy he is. Our kids—this new generation—they’re much more bold, more restless. And he already understands what’s happening in the country. I won’t be able to stop him. No one could stop me—and I won’t be able to stop him either.
I don’t want this whole nightmare to repeat itself 10 years from now. I don’t trust the Russians. I don’t believe in ceasefires or so-called peace deals. The only thing I believe in is making sure this never happens again.
Journalist: You got your tattoos after Bakhmut, right?
Skif: Yeah. After Bakhmut... something just snapped. The emotional pain was unreal. It was unbearable. This one right here (points)—this poppy tattoo—that’s about Bakhmut. This soldier, a Svoboda fighter, was right there with me in Bakhmut. It hit me hard afterward. I was sitting at the tattoo artist’s place, deep in my thoughts, not saying anything. And he was working on my arm, hitting it with red ink, poppies. Then he looks at me—looks at the needle, back at me—and says: "Are you even alive? I’m tattooing this deep, man. You should’ve at least flinched." I told him, "Buddy, I honestly don’t feel a thing right now." He did the whole sleeve in four hours. Told me, "You held up like a champ. I know soldiers are tough—but this was something else."
I don’t know... I’d give all the money in the world just to not lose my people. I’d give it all, just to bring even one of them back. And I know I can’t.
After each rotation, our battalion holds a memorial watch. We gather, first and foremost, to remember all the fallen brothers who gave the most valuable thing they had—their lives—for the civilian future of our country. We recite the Prayer of the Ukrainian Nationalist, stand together around the watch fire, and read aloud every name and every callsign of those who gave their lives. It brings people together. It makes sure we never forget them. They are with us—always. At the watch, and in our hearts.
O holy Ukraine, mother of heroes, descend into my heart.
Come to me with the storm of Caucasian winds,
with the murmur of Carpathian streams,
with the triumphs of the battles of the glorious Conqueror, Father Khmel,
and the roar of revolutionary cannons...
SIVERSK AXIS, 2023–2025
ILLENKO: Since late spring 2023, our battalion—operating as part of the battalion tactical group of the Rubizh Brigade—has been carrying out missions on the Siversk axis. This is a strategically vital direction.For two years now, the enemy has been trying to seize Siversk in order to open a route toward the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk agglomeration from the north, or more precisely, the northeastern flank. And for all those two years, the Svoboda Battalion, the Power of Freedom Battalion, and all the units that make up the Rubizh BTG have been performing their tasks in extremely difficult conditions.
The terrain lies somewhat in a lowland. There’s virtually no way to move without being seen.
We see the enemy, and the enemy sees us. There have been many instances when the enemy launched massive assaults. June 1, 2023. The battalion had just deployed—freshly arrived and taking up new positions. It was our first time in that sector—an unfamiliar area for us. I was just talking about it with the battalion commander today. I remember the moment when he was staring into the monitor and said, "Okay—one, two..." I asked, "What is it?" He replied, "I’m counting enemy tanks—one, two... sixteen." "Sixteen tanks?" "Sixteen." And then came the assault. Our fighters showed extraordinary heroism. I especially want to highlight a soldier from the fire support company—anti-tank operator Mykola Bomko, callsign "Mongol," posthumously awarded the title Hero of Ukraine.
He left his cover and singlehandedly destroyed the bulk of the enemy’s armored vehicles, fully exposing himself in the process. At that point, there was no other choice. As a result, the enemy concentrated fire on him, and he was killed in action—heroically. He literally stood his ground against an enemy mechanized unit. His act of heroism played a decisive role in repelling that assault. It was a moment of incredible... truly incredible bravery of a Ukrainian warrior.
And these are things that are hard to even comprehend—the sheer scale of this heroism. I think everyone remembers the interview Yurii Butusov did with "Vohon." The way he described everything... That kind of experience— I strongly recommend everyone rewatch that interview, where Vohon talks about those two months spent in encirclement. How they broke out, how they fought back against tanks. This... this is the reality of today’s war. This is the reality of our infantry.
What does it take to join the Svoboda Battalion? Do you have selection criteria—for example, do candidates need to know the Prayer of the Ukrainian Nationalist, or do they learn it along the way?
Well, we would love to have such criteria in place—but then, for example, we wouldn't be able to take in legionnaires from South America. I don’t think they’re quite ready to learn the Prayer before joining the battalion. But we’ll think about it—maybe we’ll make it a requirement. Though I guess they’d have to recite it in Spanish. Just kidding. But seriously—the main point is this: we never stray from our values.
Right now, recruitment is difficult. Mobilization is difficult. Manning units is difficult. I’m not revealing any great military secrets when I say that things are tough across the board. So we adapt however we can. For example, we’ve started bringing in our amigos from Latin America. And I’ll tell you—they fight really well. And it’s not just Latin America—we have foreign volunteers from European countries as well. But the main contingent, of course, comes from Latin America. We're doing everything we can.
Do you also Ukrainianize them?
Of course, we will Ukrainise it. The Cossacks are already normal. Soon they will grow out their forelocks and be... They already say "Glory to Ukraine", "Glory to the nation". And some people already speak Ukrainian better than some Ukrainians who cannot learn Ukrainian in 30 years.
And we learn a little Spanish too. It's a great skill - "Buenos dias", "Amigos", "Vamos". It's all good. You can organise learning Spanish at the same time. It's very useful. So everything is fine.
We came together as volunteers, and then we always tried to act on this principle. But the situation is not the most optimistic in this regard. There are problems, but we are overcoming them.
CHEKH: The army, the war, the start of the full-scale invasion — it changed everything drastically. It forced us to grow up — from boys who just liked running around with rifles, to men ready to make decisions, men ready to take responsibility, understanding that lives depend on it — not just your own, but the lives of others. You see, when you play Counter-Strike on a computer, there’s no responsibility — it’s just a game.
But when you’re playing Counter-Strike for real, and every step, every move, every word — that’s your life and the lives of your brothers-in-arms... Whether you like it or not, you’re going to have to grow up.
Now it’s been 10 years on this path, in the brigade you’ve helped build and now command. What would you like to say to your soldiers — if they were standing next to you right now?
Sydorin: We work for results. We train. We keep training. Constant improvement. We listen to everyone’s ideas — if you have thoughts on how to improve our training, speak up — we’ll hear you. Take care of your brother-in-arms. Because on the battlefield, it might be just the two of you. Either you’ll help him and pull him out, or he’ll help you. Or maybe you’ll hold the line until another pair, or a trio of your comrades, comes to back you up. Commanders — use your heads. Soldiers — stay with your unit. Maybe there are better teams somewhere. Maybe there are worse ones — across all structures. But you are part of Rubizh. You are part of your battalion. You are part of your team. And you are forging victory.
