Camilla Jessen
Two troops, cut off for months, were brought back after a dramatic operation under constant threat.
Ukrainian assault forces from the 425th “Skelya” Separate Assault Regiment carried out a rescue mission to extract two soldiers who had been surrounded near the Kramatorsk axis, the unit said on March 30.
The stranded fighters, known by the call signs “Logan” and “Hlukhyi,” had been holding a key defensive position near a highway leading toward Sloviansk for nearly a year.
According to the unit, Russian forces changed tactics over time, avoiding direct assaults and instead encircling the position.
This left the two Ukrainian soldiers isolated deep behind enemy lines despite their fortified defenses.
“We were well dug in. The fortifications were solid. We worked on them for a long time, and it was very hard,” Logan said.
The operation to extract them involved sending an assault fighter, known as “Sedoy,” approximately 15 kilometres into enemy-controlled territory.
He was the first to reach the stranded troops, establishing contact before the group began the return journey.
Dangerous return
The extraction proved even more challenging than the approach. The group spent three days moving back toward Ukrainian positions while facing artillery fire and drone surveillance.
Despite the risks, they managed to break through and return safely.
The mission comes amid continued fighting in eastern Ukraine. In a separate operation, Ukrainian assault units reported clearing the village of Minkivka along the Bakhmut–Sloviansk route.
Officials said the operation helped stabilise the frontline and disrupt further Russian advances.
Sources: Statement from Ukraine’s 425th “Skelya” Separate Assault Regiment, United24 Media.
