Ukrainian forces use Cossack tactics – battalion commander

In the struggle against the Russian aggressor, Ukraine’s Defense Forces, among other things, use the Cossack tactics, which allow them to attack with smaller forces and capture the fortified positions of the Russian army.

The relevant statement was made by Commander of the 20th Separate Special Operations Forces Battalion ‘Ukraine’, Major Pavlo Kurylenko during a discussion dedicated to the role of the Cossack factor amid Russia’s full-scale aggression at Ukraine Media Center - Ukrinform.

“I practice the completion of combat tasks with the use of the Cossack factor. Both hundreds of years ago and two weeks ago, our servicemen were able to take large positions in the offensive with smaller forces, i.e. the enemy’s stronghold,” Kurylenko told.

In his words, nowadays the Ukrainian military use similar tactics as their Cossack ancestors did, winning with impudence, trickery, and finding several options for a logical and correct way out of ‘hopeless situations’.

According to Kurylenko, such skills are needed by personnel and commanders to analyze the situation on the battlefield instead of working “as the book says”.

“It is necessary to take the initiative. Cossacks were always proactive. Courage was always shown along with cunning. Thanks to these factors, the whole complex of such actions, today our units complete their tasks and successfully advance,” Kurylenko stressed.

The participants discussed the previous and current experience of using the Cossack heritage to strengthen the combat capacity of the Armed Forces of Ukraine; challenges and threats of the Kremlin’s use of Cossack themes amid Russia’s full-scale aggression against Ukraine; the need to strengthen the role of Cossack heritage in Ukrainian education, military and patriotic youth efforts and art.