Ukraine may soon use unconventional warfare skills provided by the United States

• Russia’s offensive against Ukraine comes eight years after it took over Crimea and fueled the separatist movement in eastern Ukraine.
• Following this invasion in 2014, US and Western special operations forces trained Ukrainian troops to wage unconventional warfare.
• If the conventional battle in Ukraine ends in Russia’s favor, Ukrainians could use these unconventional skills.

The invasion of Ukraine does not follow the plan of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Days after the operation, his forces are struggling to achieve their goals and face fiercer-than-expected Ukrainian resistance.

Sooner or later, Russia’s quantitative and qualitative military superiority could give Putin the much-desired victory. But then the unconventional war will begin, and Ukrainians are preparing for it after Russia’s invasion and takeover of Crimea in 2014.

American and Western special operations forces worked extensively with the Ukrainian military in the years that followed, creating commandos, training them, and preparing them to lead a guerrilla campaign against the occupying forces.

Now that Putin has invaded Ukraine for the second time in less than a decade, the lessons American commandos have taught their Ukrainian counterparts are deadly.

The unconventional war is the bread and butter of a regiment of the US Army’s Special Forces – the Green Berets – and members of the 10th Special Forces Group, whose area of ​​responsibility is Europe, have worked with Ukrainian special operations forces.

Reports also show that the US intelligence community has provided special operations and training for Ukraine’s intelligence.

Guerrilla war

So far, Russian forces appear to have tried not to engage civilians, which may be an attempt to avoid alienating Ukrainians in line with Moscow’s attempts to portray the invasion as a “liberating” Ukraine.

But according to the Ukrainian government, there are hundreds of civilian deaths, and the guerrilla war in Ukraine, home to 44 million people, will also be bloody for defenders, rebels and passers-by.

When it comes to guerrilla tactics, the Ukrainian resistance will focus on Russia’s weaknesses. A column of main battle tanks supported by mechanized infantry is a solid target, but the trucks and warehouses that support them are softer targets that Ukrainian guerrillas would target to counter the numerical and technological superiority of Russia.

“The Russians’ logistics chain, which is already in turmoil trying to supply its troops, will become a major target. They are soft-skinned, attached to the road and have conscripts, not professional fighters.” Steve Balestrieria journalist and a retired army special forces officer, told the Insider.

“They will not attack a battalion tactical group from the front. They attack and use the gaps in the formations. The troops from the rear echelon are particularly vulnerable,” Balestrieri said.

Another goal will be the morale of the Russian occupiers. A U.S. defense official says Russian morale in Ukraine is now low, as are footage from the fighting. shows that Russian troops were not welcome.

Civilians are already openly protesting against the Russian invaders, even reaching a stand in front of tanks to stop military movements. Russian troops occupying the country will be targeted early and often.

“[Occupied] government buildings, isolated outposts, small groups of Russian soldiers, all will be targeted. If high-ranking officers or politicians visit, they would all be likely targets of guerrilla attacks. “Russian battalion tactical groups are ill-prepared to be occupying forces in Ukrainian cities,” Balestrieri added.

Guerrilla forces draw their strength from surprise, not power, and US and Western special services would train Ukrainians to wait their turn and strike when the enemy is most vulnerable, a Green Beretta assigned to the Special Forces group told Insider. forces of the National Guard.

“An untrained guerrilla with an anti-tank weapon will simply want to shoot the first tank he sees and flee to the forest for safety. But a well-trained guerrilla will be able to miss the first few tanks and then hit them either from behind or hit the delivery trucks, “said the Green Beret, which was not authorized to speak in public.

Ukraine’s borders with four NATO members would also facilitate a revolt by facilitating its support. Weapons, supplies and reinforcements would be relatively easy to enter and leave the country.

“The guerrilla forces will have many external shelters in the west, where NATO will provide plenty of support. “Although the terrain does not offer the kind of shelter we once thought, Ukraine is huge – the second largest country in Europe – and guerrillas can strike at any place of their choice,” Balestrieri added.

Using improvised explosive devices, the guerrillas “will wreak havoc on Russians trying to cover a country the size of Texas,” Balestrieri said.

As defenders against invading force, they would also have an advantage in the field of information.

“Controlling the story would be a big boost for Ukrainians,” Balestrieri told Insider. “Putin presented this as a war against Nazis and fascists, but he is really afraid of democracy on his border, which could lead to regime change” in Russia.

Stavros Atlamazoglu is a defense journalist specializing in special operations, a veteran of the Greek Army (National Service of the 575th Marine Battalion and Army Headquarters) and a graduate of Johns Hopkins University.