Since World War I, armies have been storming trench lines, yet despite the advances in military technology, it remains a harrowing experience. The goal is to breach a protected firing position that is guarded by the enemy, linked by sunken walkways, and bunkers, making it no easy feat. An assault can be stealthy and surgical, relying on surprise tactics, or launched with overwhelming force, involving drone strikes, tanks, and artillery.
In May, Ukrainian soldiers chose the latter option when they attacked a trench line, in what U.S. officials suggested on Monday has begun. They broke through Russian land mines, tank barriers, and trenches using a well-choreographed operation that consisted of mortar units that bombarded the position with 3000 bullets from two American-provided Browning machine guns, followed by the deployment of tanks and armored Humvees that opened fire using machine guns.
By the time the Ukrainian soldiers reached the Russian trench, the defenders were disoriented and unable to fight back. An exploding drone flown in ahead of the assault troops scarred the Russians, leaving them hiding in their bunkers. Ukraine has been training specialized units for such assaults, with allies such as the United States and Britain instructing Ukrainian soldiers on how to coordinate artillery, armored vehicles, and infantry.
Capturing a trench fortification involves careful planning around the peculiarities of the landscape, weather, and individual actions of soldiers said the Ukrainian commander Kozak. It is a difficult soldiering task that aims to get as close as possible before the enemy has an opportunity to fire back. Stealth approaches can be used to catch the enemy off guard, or overpower them with firepower, forcing them to keep their heads down until it’s safe to advance. The choreography is essential to pounding the trench and reaching it as quickly as possible without hitting one’s own soldiers.
Russia has its own tactics for storming trenches, which involves driving armored vehicles toward the trench line to draw fire from the defenders, revealing the firing points, and bombarding the trenches with artillery. In the battle for Bakhmut last year, they sent several waves of convicts forward to overwhelm defenses. Recently, Russia formed specialized infantry units called Storm units, partially recruited from special forces veterans, who operate in combination with armored vehicles and artillery, just like the Ukrainian army.
The Ukrainian attack was a success as it led to the capture of a large number of prisoners, unlike the inconclusive skirmishing in most areas along the front line. The prisoners can be exchanged for captured Ukrainians. For all the tactical planning necessary to capture a trench, soldiers need something more, they must be furious, said Ukrainian soldier Ryzhy, meaning that they should not be angry or evil, but fiercely committed to the mission’s success.
Maria Varenikova contributed reporting from Pokrovsk, Ukraine
