For weeks, Ukraine promised a counteroffensive that would push back Moscow’s forces. In a forest outside Kyiv, an airborne assault brigade is training to do just that on Thursday, vowing to “destroy Russian troops,” AFP reports.

On a clearing in the middle of a pine forest, scouts from the Burevy (Ukrainian: “storm”) brigade pose as the “enemy”, covering their faces with camouflage paint and wearing balaclavas, then slide into the swampy water to hide. .

Another group, believed to be the Ukrainian military, launches a surprise attack, firing blind bullets and throwing smoke grenades.

An integral part of the National Guard of Ukraine, the Burevi Airborne Assault Brigade, also known as the “First Presidential Brigade”, this week was recognized by the head of state Volodymyr Zelenskyi for its “resilience”.

The unit is also called the “Brigade for the Elimination of Russian Soldiers.”

In February, the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced the creation of several new military “assault” formations, including Bureviya, under the auspices of the National Guard, police and border guards.

He noted that these brigades with the famous names “Spartan”, “Steel Frontier” or “Fury” will be joined by volunteers. About 23,000 people who applied for these brigades will have to “reinforce” the Ukrainian army “during the offensive” promised by Kyiv.

After more than a year of Russian invasion, Ukraine is insisting on the return by force of arms of all territories occupied by Russia, including the Crimean peninsula, annexed in 2014.

“It’s time to return what belongs to you,” says the National Guard website.

Meanwhile, in an online announcement of the Bureviy brigade, they warn: “Occupiers, a thunderstorm is coming!”.

“We return what was taken from us”

“At the beginning of the war, we took a defensive position. Our task was to limit the advance of the enemy,” 41-year-old Taras, one of the drillers who joined the service shortly after the start of the Russian offensive in February 2022, told AFP.

He fought in several hot spots in the east of Ukraine, in particular in Bakhmut and Severodonetsk.

“Now we have to go on a counteroffensive. We must return what was taken from us,” says the former director of the armored door factory.

Despite the new name, this brigade of the National Guard has its history since 2014, when the participants of the pro-Western revolution in Kyiv went to fight pro-Russian separatists in the east of Ukraine.

Today, the unit has become more professional, as the authorities, with the support of the West, have allocated resources.

All their specialists, such as military doctors, go abroad for training, says Taras. And “there is full provision of uniforms, body armor and helmets, as well as food.”

“Everything has changed a lot. Morale is high,” he says.

However, recruits do not immediately enter the battle.

Counteroffensive postponed “at least for a month”

The units are formed from “fighters who have already participated in hostilities and have experience, we are gradually adding new recruits,” says Taras.

According to a 21-year-old intelligence officer nicknamed “Bazooka”, the brigade’s size has “quadrupled” and has “Western instructors”.

“In general, the level of training has increased, there are more weapons,” he said.

The Ukrainian military said it was training its soldiers and stockpiling ammunition for a counteroffensive in an effort to replenish manpower and wear down enemy forces.

It is not known when the Ukrainian attack will begin.

According to Taras’ calculations, his brigade will not go to the front for at least a month, because the specialists are still training abroad.

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