Ukrainian Paratroopers Seek Vengeance Following Execution of Prisoners by Russian Marines

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Tensions along the Ukrainian-Russian front have escalated dramatically following the brutal execution of nine Ukrainian prisoners by Russian marines. These prisoners, members of a Ukrainian drone team, were captured during a Russian counterattack led by the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade in the Kursk Oblast region. Rather than adhering to international law by taking the men captive, Russian forces stripped them, ordered them to lie face down, and shot them in the head, killing all nine.

The 82 Brigade ambushed a group of killers from the russian 155 separate marine infantry brigade of the Pacific Fleet.

Kursk region

Revenge comes soon or later pic.twitter.com/mxMVB3Ake7

— PS01 △ (@PStyle0ne1) October 14, 2024

 

This atrocity is only the latest in a growing campaign of terror by Russian forces. Ukrainian officials report that over the last 31 months, Russian troops have executed more than 100 surrendering Ukrainian soldiers, most of them in recent months. The summary execution of prisoners has a long and bloody history of provoking retribution in warfare, and this instance is no different. In the days since this violent act, Ukrainian air assault brigades have begun targeting members of the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, seeking revenge.

 

Both the 82nd and 95th Air Assault Brigades of Ukraine, holding positions near Russian forces in Kursk Oblast, have ambushed Russian marines since the execution. Although there is no clear evidence that the Ukrainians took any Russian prisoners, there are signs that they have killed several marines from the 155th Brigade. “The same fate will await other soldiers from this brigade,” the Ukrainian air assault forces warned in a chilling statement.

 

The Ukrainian hatred for the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade runs deep. This unit is notorious for its violent actions, including the alleged beheading of four Ukrainians in August, with their severed heads reportedly displayed on poles—a gruesome act more often associated with extremist terror groups. This has made the 155th a prime target for Ukrainian soldiers eager for retribution.

 

Though these revenge attacks are significant, they do not necessarily indicate a larger coordinated strategy. While Ukrainian paratroopers may be striking at small groups of Russian marines, these skirmishes do not guarantee the defeat of the entire Russian force. The broader context of the conflict remains fluid. 

 

Nine weeks after Ukrainian forces launched a large-scale invasion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast, seizing 400 square miles of territory, the Russians, including the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, have been counterattacking and slowly regaining ground, particularly on the western edge of the Ukrainian-held salient. According to Emil Kastehelmi, an analyst with the Blackbird Group, Russian forces have advanced to the village of Zelenyi Shlyakh and may have even retaken fortifications lost earlier in the fighting. “Stabilizing the situation seems difficult. Ukraine has lost roughly a third of what they controlled in Kursk at the beginning of September,” Kastehelmi stated.

 

The geography of the Zelenyi Shlyakh area, characterized by flat and mostly treeless terrain, has made it difficult for the Ukrainian forces to prepare effective defenses. Despite being in a position that should favor dug-in defenders, the open terrain allows Russian forces to monitor Ukrainian positions more easily using UAVs and destroy Ukrainian engineering equipment, leaving them exposed to concentrated Russian firepower.

 

For now, Russian forces, particularly the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade, continue to advance, exploiting favorable terrain and superior firepower. However, Ukrainian troops are unlikely to surrender without a fierce fight. With the brutal reputation of the Russian marines now well known, Ukrainian soldiers may be more inclined to fight to the death rather than risk falling into Russian hands.

 

Based on a report from Forbes 2024-10-16