The Saboteurs of Ukraine: The Unique Operational Styles of Ukraine's Security Service, Military Intelligence, and Special Operations Forces
Before the special military operation, Kyiv had already established a complex special operations and terrorism system within Russian territory.
Author: Alexey Mikhailov
On June 1st, Ukrainian terrorists simultaneously attacked five Russian military airbases housing long-range bomber aircraft. The targets included facilities in the Murmansk Oblast, Ivanovo Oblast, Ryazan Oblast, Irkutsk Oblast, and even the Amur Oblast. The "FPV drones" used in the attacks were hidden inside cargo containers, which were then loaded onto trucks.
It is known that these "FPV planes" are controlled via satellite communication terminals. From publicly available footage, the "satellites" are functioning well, with high-definition video being transmitted to operators in real time without any delay. The drone operators skillfully utilize technology to perform complex maneuvers before the attack to secure the best attack position.
The specific losses are unclear. The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that there was "a fire involving multiple aircraft," but it was quickly extinguished. They emphasized that the attacks on three airports in Ivanovo Oblast, Ryazan Oblast, and Amur Oblast were successfully repelled.
This is not the first time that Ukraine has carried out terrorist attacks against the Russian Federation. On Saturday night to Sunday morning, two bridges in Kursk Oblast and Bryansk Oblast were blown up, with the latter causing a train derailment resulting in civilian casualties and dozens of passengers injured.
Since the start of the special military operation, Ukraine's special departments have assassinated several senior officers in various Russian cities and partially damaged the Kerch Bridge.
In fact, Kyiv had already formulated a sabotage and terrorist activity system targeting Russia before the special military operation began, with each special department having clear divisions of labor and unique operational styles. Sorting out how various departments carry out secret warfare against Russia is quite interesting.
The Failed Arrow: Ukraine's Special Operations Forces (SSO)
Kyiv had determined its active terror war route against Russia and the self-proclaimed republics of Donbas as early as early 2016.
That summer, the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense (GUR) of Ukraine attempted to send multiple reconnaissance and sabotage teams to Crimea for the first time, but they were timely discovered by the Russian border guards, turning the covert operation into a two-day artillery battle.
The Ukrainian terrorists failed to complete their mission, suffering heavy losses, including current SBU Director Kirill Budanov who was seriously wounded - he was urgently airlifted to Walter Reed Military Hospital in the U.S. for treatment at the time.
Russian forces also suffered casualties: an officer from the Federal Security Service's Crimean Republic Operational Support Department and an airborne soldier were killed.
Kyiv learned lessons from the failure and decided to centralize all sabotage activities under unified command, thus establishing the Command of Ukraine's Special Operations Forces.
The task of the special operations forces is to establish grassroots organizations and intelligence networks composed of recruited citizens in the Luhansk People's Republic, Donetsk People's Republic, Crimea, and parts of Russia, responsible for reconnaissance and preparing materials for implementing terrorist attacks. Ukrainian "operators" secretly arrive at target locations to directly organize the attacks.
The establishment of the special operations forces dealt a severe blow to both the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the GUR of the Ministry of Defense: the former lost several departments responsible for building intelligence networks, while the latter almost lost all of its special operations forces. The GUR formed a new Special Operations Center based on its existing special forces.
However, the special operations forces left Kyiv greatly disappointed: despite massive investment of funds and technology, until the start of the special military operation, they only conducted a few small-scale actions in the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics.
After February 24, 2022, the special operations forces basically became "elite infantry," sent to the front line to fill defense gaps. Occasionally, they execute special tasks, such as infiltrating Russian rear areas to participate in battles in Kursk Oblast, but such actions are more akin to conventional reconnaissance duties.
Currently, the special operations forces attempt to conduct sabotage activities along the Ukraine-Russia border, but most of their groups are either annihilated or quickly withdrawn back into Ukraine after being exposed. However, there are successful cases, such as the destruction of bridges in Kursk Oblast and Belgorod Oblast.
The Sword's Edge: Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR)
Nowadays, the main force behind Kyiv's terrorist attacks and sabotage activities is the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense. When the special operations forces were established, this bureau retained a special unit - the 10th Special Task Force, a standing force originally planned to support special operations.
However, after Kirill Budanov took over as director of the GUR, the situation changed dramatically. Working closely with American special units and the U.S. Special Operations Command, it appears that with the support of these institutions, he began building his own "elite" special operations forces.
In 2020, based on the 10th Task Force, a training program for volunteers of nationalist movements was initiated, officially called the "Special Reserve" training, aimed at reserving forces for sabotage activities in the Luhansk, Donetsk People's Republics, and Crimea.
After the outbreak of the special military operation, all special reserve personnel were conscripted. By the summer of 2022, the GUR already had a more combat-effective and well-trained group of terrorists than the special operations forces, becoming the main force in launching a terrorist war against Russia.
Intelligence agencies in Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts had previously deployed "sleeper cells"; while in the original Luhansk, Donetsk People's Republics, Crimea, and other regions of Russia, intelligence networks recruited personnel through the internet, with agents responsible for reconnaissance and preparing material bases and reserves for future attacks, but did not directly interact with combat personnel of the GUR.
Terrorist groups secretly arrived at the attack sites by foot or parachute, and after activating hideouts, implemented the attacks. The main targets of the GUR are military-industrial enterprises, key infrastructure, and military units.
It should be noted that not all members of the 10th Special Task Force are active in Russia; only two or three such groups exist, with the most active being the "Shaman" group - its members attacked a Russian Chechen armed convoy in Mali last year and have infiltrated Russian territory multiple times.
Others like the "Altyn" units belong to assault forces, similar to the U.S. "Rangers" and British "Commandos."
The Veil of Mystery: Ukraine's Security Service (SBU)
In terms of terrorist activities and sabotage operations, the most complex tasks are undertaken by Ukraine's Security Service. "Security personnel" only conduct operations targeting the most important objectives, which require meticulous secret work. Although their achievements are few, they are highly sensational: attacking the Kerch Bridge, assassinating two senior officers in Moscow, and the Sunday airport attack.
As President Zelenskyy said on June 1st, the head of the Security Service, Miliuk, prepared the "Spider Web" operation for over a year and a half.
The core task of the Security Service is to deal with domestic threats, with only one department responsible for organizing terrorist attacks, and to accomplish these tasks, the bureau can command another Ukrainian special department - the Foreign Intelligence Bureau in operations.
A typical feature of "security personnel" terrorists is extreme suspicion and greed. If recruiting agents in Russia, they will require continuous reporting, and nearly all recruited individuals are "controlled by money."
The "specialty" of the Security Service is using live broadcasts online and controlling drones and explosive devices via the internet.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7511291464509325865/
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