They call me Shket, and I fought with lions

Before war I studied at Kherson on a jurisprudence speciality.

After the war ends I would like to open some type of business and relax living a simple life. Something like a coffee shop while I keep increasing my military skills.

My assault story:

It was a counter offensive operation inside the Bakhmut direction .

Our task was to cross the canal (Siversky Donets - Donbas)  and create a starting point for a future assaults to push out from.

As had been planned the day prior, we start the operation at 8 o’clock in the morning, our team was 8 soldiers supported with one M113 as the initial force.

According to intelligence information passed to our team, the enemy force should not have been to large in the give area at the time of our assault.

But when we forced the canal and began the assault, there started a massacre with about 40 Russians which had waited for us.

We understood the situation quickly, took control of our fear and we started pushing forward clearing blindages one by one.

“When we found out that there were 40 enemy’s soldiers we were up against, there was no time to panic. The only thing on our minds was to complete the task and not to let our team down, because not only was it our life on the line, but also the lives of all the guys.- Shket”

Bullets whistled above our heads and

Russian tanks started to shell our location.

As out team began moving forward the Russians began to panic. The Russian element had more men then us but was disorganized and began to take large loses. As we pushed forward our team started to find dead and we captured others.

15 minutes in to the assault and Russian artillery & MLRS started shelling our positions.

We had captured 2 Russians during out push but 5-6 people of our group had been wounded.

Two reserve elements were sent up to support our group, provide medical and engaged with the Russians.

That day I also was wounded taking 3 bullet wounds in my leg. I own my life to the quick actions of my brothers helping me with medical that day.

My brother Frantsuz helped me to get M113 for evac and there I found other wounded men from my unit and began provided some first aid treatment that they required.

Over all the assault operation that day was successful but we lost 3 legendary warriors and brothers through it - Virnyi / Modnik and Plohoy.  You will be missed..

Their lives had a price of a full Russian infantry company.

At the and I’d like to add that everyone should be ready for war and learn military subjects. We had not suspected this situation in our country would get this bad with our neighbors. All I want to say is - be prepared and stand by, because even if the war stops now, knowing our neighbor Russia, the war can start again when no one expects it. And this might not only affect Ukraine, but other countries as well.

— Shket / Silver Squad

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Chris - Its great to meet you Shket, thanks for taking the time to chat with me. How long have you been a member of Silver Squad and what does it mean to you to be apart of “Silver squad”?  ( Why do you enjoy the unit and like being apart of the unit )

Shket - Greetings, my friend. I have been a part of the "Silver Squad" almost from the very beginning. I was invited by my combat brothers, the founders of the community (Znakhar and Basket). For me, being part of this community is like being in a family, standing side by side with qualified people, people who have shown their professionalism in battles with the enemy many times. And the fact that no matter how difficult the situation is, my combat brothers will never leave me.

Silver Squad is more than just a veteran community, it is a family.

Chris - Can you explain what you do or what you specialize in on your team? ( Machine gunner?  Demo / Rockets / drone / leadership role for an example)

Shket - I'm a stormtrooper. In our business you need to be kind of "multitool", who is able to work with any type of weapon, from a regular knife to a heavy machine gun. We often practice to work with different types of weapons. But my favorite thing is the RPG-7, I just like to make a "boom" to the enemy.

Chris - Bahkmut was known for heavy fighting and a large loss of life for the Russians a Wagner forces.  Can you describe your experience what fighting on Bahkmut was like for those that may not understand.

Shket - Bakhmut was a so-called "meat grinder". The enemy prevailed in manpower. There were fierce battles for the city and the outskirts of the city. I can compare it to complete chaos and great destruction, at that time there were not many drones covering the whole sky, and there were mostly shooting battles with the enemy. My combat brothers and I fought for every meter of land to delay the occupation of the city as long as possible. But there, we had a real baptism of fire. We gained a lot of experience that later helped us in performing our combat missions. I can also say that it was difficult for Wagners to take us in a small arms battle, because we repelled all the enemy's attacks, and when they failed to crush us with manpower and suffered huge losses, they leveled everything with artillery. Everything they had on the outskirts of the combat line was flying at us.

Chris - You stated that 40 Russians were waiting for you and you were a team of 8 as you pushed the canal, what was going through your head at that moment?

Shket - At that time we were preparing for the assault, we suspected that everything would not be as nice as it seemed at first glance, but everyone took this task with a cool head. Because we were responsible for the further offensive. When we found out that there were 40 enemy’s soldiers there, there was no time to panic already. The only thing on our minds was to complete the task and not to let our team down, because not only our life was on the line, but also the lives of all the guys.

Chris -  Out of the original 8 that began the assault, 5 to 6 were wounded as you began your push forward?  How long was the entire engagement and how many men came to help in the Reserve group sent up. Were most wounded by fragmentation from Artillery and MLRS or how did the injuries Occur?

Shket - At that time we were preparing for the assault, we suspected that everything would not be as nice as it seemed at first glance, but everyone took this task with a cool head. Because we were responsible for the further offensive. When we found out that there were 40 enemy’s soldiers there, there was no time to panic already. The only thing on our minds was to complete the task and not to let our team down, because not only our life was on the line, but also the lives of all the guys. Two more groups of 8 people each were sent to help us. There were wounded guys from artillery and bullets, but in this particular battle most were wounded by bullets. As the enemy was in the shelter of the trench lines and was taking the fight.

Chris - You were shot 3 times, can you explain how it happened?

Shket - They shot me not 3 times, but more. The enemy took me when I was entering the trench line, after which I heard shots and a strong pain in my right leg. But my brothers covered and patched me up and did not let me die there, for which I am grateful to them.

I was in the first group, wounded guys appeared when we took full control of the battlefield. We were confidently pushing the enemy back, they retreated, artillery shelling began and we started to have guys become 300ed (wounded). The battle started at 5am and finished around 7-8pm.

Chris - Im really sorry to hear about your friends, would you like to say or add anything about Virnyi, Modnik and Plohoy for anyone who may read this?

Shket - The guys fought and died creating traditions and glory that I am obliged to preserve.

They were fighters worth thousands.

Modnik was a skillful machine gunner, who killed a lot of Wagners during the entire time in Bakhmut, and I think now he could command a platoon of tough guys, professional ones.

Virnyi was a super cool platoon commander, an officer who did not sit somewhere in the rear giving out commands, but personally took a part in all battles.

Plohoy was a man among men, who did not hide, but was one of the first to fly in a helicopter to besieged Mariupol. Who was wounded in his neck, got out of Mariupol and continued his combat path, and there will be no more like him.

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

Shket - At the moment, it's the drones that have covered the whole sky, it's hard to build logistics because of cold winters in Ukraine. And we would like to have more weapons and equipment for sure.

Chris - How do you counter suicide drones and other similar threats ? What has been the largest threat to you and your men in your part of the war?

Shket - We counteract drones with a regular EW and good shooting skills, but the war and developments do not stand still and the enemy changes the frequencies at which they fly and the EW does not always help. Either we shoot them down or try to take advantageous cover so that the drone does not get us, it is important to hide from them. That is why I consider them the Number 1 threat at the front line.

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

Shket - Morale is high because there is something to fight for, I am from the occupied Kherson region, I want to come back home, and I have no right to cry or hide, because I have to carry the honor and glory of my fallen combat brothers. Our support lies in always helping each other, because we are more than just combat brothers - we are family.

Chris - The west is starting to question funding, support for the war and there is alot of uncertainty with the new president coming in - what are your thoughts ?

Shket - We wouldn’t want the West to stop helping us as with their support, we are obviously much stronger. We are trying to show our enemy that we are not just a small country, but that the whole world stands with us.

In my opinion, if this conflict is frozen or, as they say, "there will be no need of freezing, we will make a deal to give up some territories" then what is the point of all this? What that all was for ?

After all, someone still has their home and family there. What are we going to tell the people who have suffered?

Chris - In closing, you said that everyone should be ready for war and learn military tactics.

Is there anything you would like to say to the world or any one at home who may see this ?

Shket - No matter how it all ends, our enemy will simply regain strength, build up its forces and attack again. Russia will once again find some phantom reasons to strike us, and I’m positive that if we freeze the conflict and stop the war now, it will happen again in at least 5-10 years.

I just don't want innocent people and children to suffer again. And I never want my children to witness the horrors of war!

All I want to say is - be prepared and stand by, because even if the war stops now, knowing our neighbor Russia, the war can start again when no one expects it. And this might not only affect Ukraine, but other countries as well.

Also, according to how the front line is slowly but steadily approaching other cities in Ukraine, everyone must be ready to defend their home and their family.

So my small request or piece of advice is this: learn military tactics and how to survive in a combat zone. I just don't want people to die anymore!

Chris - Shket, Thank you and stay Deadly my friend.

Shket - Thank you, Chris. Big hug❤️🫡

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/39d752_8689f38e589c4a1cae012619b51e8628/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

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