Schoolboy - Stuck in the ditch, one commanders story.

My call sign is " Schoolboy ",

Before the war, I was an ordinary employee at the Novus supermarket, namely a security guard.

I joined the army March 24, 2022, working my way through the unit and ranks to which im now the commander of an assault group in the SKALA special forces unit.

Mission Background:

It happened in the evening, my platoon commander approached me quietly to not stir the men. He told me that we were going to Kurakhove in the early evening and I had to gather the group. I quickly organized the guys, and at 12 am we left for the position to meet with a guide   

When we arrived, we were told that we would be taken out at 4 am with all of my men. I gathered the guys, discussed all the details, and we set off. A guide met us on the way but he soon left us in the open which was very dangerous. My guess is that he was expecting heavy artillery to come in and was not willing to risk his own life.  After he left, we came under mortar fire and other indirect fire, but our unit was able to get our bearings quickly and we were able to sit out the shelling in a less dangerous place. I ordered the guys to take cover and head out and at that moment a RU 82mm mine fell next to us and detonated rocking our world and we were forced to stay in the landing for four hours to wait out the shelling.

I was lying in the gap made from an 82-millimeter mortar, with an assault rifle, a GP-25 and 33 VOG grenades for my GP25. Drones were flying over us, but I decided not to shoot so as not to give away our position. We were trying to remain invisible.

The combat mission itself lasted 4 days, my group and I were in the ditch for 2 days. Each time night fell, the situation became even more complicated as both sides use the mavic-3T which has a thermal imaging function. It became clear to us that it was dangerous to stay in one place, so I decided that we needed to change our position. We carefully chose a moment when the enemy's activity decreased and quietly moved to a shelter in a drainage pipe, which gave us some protection. Although the shelling did not stop, we were prepared to stay safe for a while.

During one of the nights, we heard the rumble of heavy equipment - it was a Russian tank that was called in to soften us up and started shelling our positions. We contacted the commander and asked him to withdraw the tank, as the tank was making fairly good impacts above us. We oriented our commander on the location of our position and where the enemy tank was working. Thanks to fire support and those boys being so fast and accurate, the commander managed to push the enemy forces further away from our location.

The following morning, another group was at a distance of about 200 meters from my team and was conducting assault operations on near by houses as we started our sweep. The first person from that group entered the house and met the enemy with fire but was able to leave unharmed. Our sister unit was able to close on the house quickly and filled the house with frag grenades completed the task independently and without losses.

After clearing the buildings and working through the day we had reached the final phase line. At this point we realized that we had successfully completed the task of pushing RU forces from this area, knocked the enemy out of their strongholds and pushing armor out of its support sectors.  With this success it allowed for a little down time, a smoke and were waiting for the command to withdraw.

We completed the combat mission and drove the enemy out of the village. Our entire unit returned without losses.

After the war, i just want to start a family, have some rest, and most likely go on to become a combat training instructor, passing on my experiance and knowledge to those that need it.

Questions

Chris - What type of work do you generally do with your unit as a commander of the assault group?  Night assault raids on Russian lines? Drone engagements and anti armor or does the unit specialize in something else?

Schoolboy - In general, with my unit, in my free time, I am preparing for assaults or studying combat tactics, doing my best to ensure that the guys know how to survive on 0. Basically, we are engaged in assault operations, entering the enemy's position, knocking them out of position and retreating back. As for night assaults: this is how we perform these tasks, and it is both difficult and easy, as you do not give away your position and make contact directly when you see the enemy nearby. In terms of combating unmanned aerial vehicles: we mainly use electronic warfare systems (for FPV) against Mavic (anti-drone guns)

But we often try to keep our positions hidden and move more covertly.

As for anti-tank weapons, we use RPGs, AT2, AT3, AT4.

The unit mostly performs assault operations, and we specialize in this.

Chris - Can you explain what “Skala” means and what the unit specializes in ?  From what I know, the unit started out seeing success in the 2022 Kharkiv counter offensive doing drone and anti armor work, anything you would like to add?

Schoolboy - The Rock - we stand to the last and are strong like it. It was created on the basis of volunteers who wanted to defend their country and drive the enemy out of our country. At the moment, they have grown into a battalion.

In my opinion, this unit has performed many important tasks on the contact line and continues to fight the enemy.

Chris - When you met with the guide, why did he leave you and your men in the open?

Schoolboy - most likely the guide knew that enemy artillery and mortars would start working on us, but he was not ready to put his life at risk. He misled us, but because we got our bearings in time, we were able to sit out the shelling in a less dangerous place.

Chris - You said as your team was taking mortar fire in the open, a “mine” fell from the sky.  Would this be from a drone dropped system or can you explain a bit more?

Schoolboy - it was an 82-caliber mine that fell 4 meters away. I was really lucky actually. They don't use mines dropped from drones often so this explosion caught us a bit off gaurd, they mostly use RPG-7 shells or various types of hand grenades or VOGs.

Chris - You stated you had "33 VOG" I know that the VOG is a hand grenade, is this the type or the amount you were carrying on your person?

Schoolboy - VOG is an ammunition for the GP-25 under-barrel grenade launcher.  33 is the amount I carried on my person.

Chris - When the drones where flying over head and you decide to not shoot, was it still dark outside during this time? ( Meaning it was harder for the drones to see you and muzzle flash would give you away )

Schoolboy - at that moment it was dawn and turning to morning, my decision was caused by the fact that if I made a shot and did not hit the drone, they would know that I and my group were in that location and the shelling would start.

Also, regarding the drones, they are more dangerous at night, as the mavic-3T has a thermal imaging function, and detects the group more often and more easily than during the day.

Chris - When you and your men are in the drainage ditch, you said you could hear enemy heavy armor rolling in to the area. How many days / nights did this mission last as it seem you were stuck for a while?

Schoolboy - The combat mission itself lasted 4 days, and my group and I were in the ditch for 2 days. Why did we stay there at all, for us it was a checkpoint waiting for further actions.

Chris - How did the commander help draw the tank away? Calling in support by fire or other means?

Schoolboy - We oriented the commander on the location of our position and where the enemy tank was working. Thanks to fire support and our own armor, the commander managed to pull the enemy forces further away from our location.

Chris - The other group that walked in to the enemies house, how close was this to you team?

The initial person that walked in was killed by the enemy or got out alive? Did your team responded to help and liquidate the enemy?

From there you unit conducted an assault through the city clearing Russian forces from the area?

Schoolboy - Another group was at a distance of about 200 meters from my team and was conducting assault operations. The first person from that group entered the house, met the enemy with fire and left unharmed luckily. After that, the house was cleared with frags and rockets.  We wanted to react and provide fire support for the adjacent team but there was no need as the group completed the task independently and without losses.

After clearing this building, we realized that we had successfully reached the final phase line and completed the task. Both teams had knocked the enemy out of the location, and were waiting for the command to withdraw.

Chris - How long have you been a member of Skala?

Schoolboy - I have been serving in the Skala unit for 7 months.

Chris - Can you describe your experience what it has been like operating on the front.

Schoolboy - My experience at the front is the clashes at the beginning of the full-scale invasion and repelling the enemy. But as I said, for the past six months, since I joined the Skala unit, I have been at the front all the time performing combat missions.

Chris - What are the main challenges you have come across while doing your job in modern warfare?

Schoolboy - In my opinion, the biggest challenge and difficulty is to teach people to survive and perform tasks effectively. Therefore, we need to constantly conduct training and exercises with the personnel.

Chris - How do you counter suicide drones and other similar threats ?

Schoolboy - Electronic warfare systems, anti-aircraft guns, or closed shelters from which you cannot be seen when observed from the sky. In fact, it is very difficult to counter them.

Chris - How is morale on the frontline and with you men considering the front hasn’t moved much as of lately. And how do you keep each other motivated?

Schoolboy - Morally, it's actually very difficult. But most people understand why they are there, so it becomes automatic.

In fact, we motivate each other in a very simple way: we have to complete this task and come back alive because we are waiting for us at home. Since you can't panic in combat, because panic = death, we try to maintain morale, keep each other focused and not forget for who and why we are fighting.

Chris - The west is starting to question funding and support for the war - what are your thoughts ?

Schoolboy - Actually, my opinion is negative on this matter, as I understand all the risks. If funding and support with equipment is cut off, it will be very difficult for us to conduct combat operations. At this stage, our territory is a buffer zone between Russia and NATO countries, and if we lose it, it will not end well.

Chris - In closing, is there anything you would like to say to the world or any one at home who may see this ?

Schoolboy - Yes, of course. First of all, I would like to express my gratitude and respect to all the volunteers and medics, because without them this war and the clash would be very difficult.

Also, respect to the younger generation who have already joined the army or are preparing and do not waste time, you are our future and we are the ones who create our history.

And I want to remind everyone else: We are the heirs of the Cossack Sich and only we can create our own history, they have always wanted to take away our right to vote and freedom, but we have never given up, and we will not do so now.

Glory to Ukraine!

Chris - Schoolboy, Thank you 🙏

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/39d752_9446da5005f54359aba3b0ef28f5484e/1080p/mp4/file.mp4