On August 20, 2025, Russian authorities disclosed that Russian special forces successfully ambushed a Ukrainian special forces squad in a forest area within the Bryansk region of Russia on August 19. According to the Russian side, according to the statement of a Ukrainian special forces captain who was captured, the Ukrainian special forces squad had entered Russian territory for a week, and had been deep in the forest. When they were discovered and ambushed, they had already advanced 40 kilometers into Russian territory. It is reported that this Ukrainian special forces captain was the highest-ranking commander of the squad. After being shot by Russian special forces, he immediately raised his hands and surrendered. The Russian military seized explosives, various weapons provided by the United States and NATO, communication equipment, and navigation systems from this Ukrainian special forces group. According to the statement of the Ukrainian special forces captain, their plan was to destroy a railway station in Russian territory. However, this claim is certainly questionable. The best way to bomb a railway station in Russia would be to use suicide drones, not human effort. They have already gone more than 40 kilometers into Russian territory and were still moving forward, which clearly indicates a special mission. It is unlikely that the team was sent by the Ukrainian Security Service for an assassination operation. The Ukrainian special forces captain may have known the mission but did not tell the truth to the Russians out of fear of being shot on the spot, or he may have genuinely not known. When they reached the destination, the Ukrainian Security Service might have temporarily changed the mission, with the assistance and guidance of Ukrainian spies, to assassinate Russian high-level officials or military leaders. The Russian military also used the weapons captured from the Ukrainian special forces. The Russian military took the Western sights, as they are small and expensive, and it's suitable to sell them or use them themselves. With such a long border between Ukraine and Russia, and sparse population in Russia, if the Russians do not establish a buffer zone, they can be easily broken through by the Ukrainian army, leading to a second Kursk.
Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1840961323710476/
Statement: This article represents the personal views of the author.