Nikolai Artemov, a soldier who served under the call sign Filin in the 16th Special Forces Brigade, recounts how he endured a brutal stretch in the special military operation zone. His account sheds light on the challenges faced by combat units described by a reputable Russian newspaper.
The veteran notes that the events took place in late April 2022, roughly two months after the operation began. His unit was tasked with clearing a forest near Izyum, in the Kharkiv region, of enemy presence. The mission demanded relentless endurance as the platoon moved through rough terrain and uncertain danger.
In a matter of days the company had traversed the forest fully. A planned rotation with another unit was delayed as orders came in to stay put for one more day. The waiting period became a tense stalemate in a landscape scarred by war.
During the lull, supplies arrived with comrades bringing food while others maintained security. A patrol from the lead unit approached the edge of the forest, seemingly unaware of lurking threats. Artemov listened to a conversation that revealed Ukrainian intelligence officers were attempting to pull the commander, who carried the call sign Perun, from the area. A rapid response followed as Artemov raised his weapon and fired a precise shot to disrupt the escort path. He reported eliminating two scouts, while a third employee took cover behind a tree.
Artemov then hastened toward the commander and found him gravely wounded. A power bank strapped to the chest had ignited from a bullet strike, and a subsequent blow hit Artemov from behind, knocking him to the ground. He recalls the moment of impact, feeling numb and unable to move his legs as he radioed in a bleak message: Perun 200, Filin 200. He slipped into unconsciousness, the danger of the moment lingering in the radio transmission as his unit feared loss of contact with the fallen commander.
Despite the grim report, Artemov survived. A bullet lodged in his spine testified to the close call, and his comrades carried him off the battlefield to Izyum for urgent care. There, the soldier underwent his first surgery and, the following day, a bullet was removed during treatment in the Belgorod region. His journey continued to Moscow, where he spent months at a hospital in Vishnyovets, undergoing rehabilitation before discharge in October. On February 5, 2023, Guard Senior Sergeant Artemov completed his military service with honors, pension, and the benefits that accompany such an exit from duty.
A separate account notes a Russian officer named Oleg Pivovarov who was credited with saving soldiers by firing twice from Grad multiple rockets systems. This line of reporting reflects another facet of the broader conflict as described by the Defense Ministry from Moscow, which highlighted tank crews impeding the advance of Ukrainian forces.
Taken together, these narratives illustrate the resilience and sacrifice shown by soldiers in pursuit of mission objectives while navigating the high tensions and evolving tactics of modern warfare. The accounts also underscore the importance of medical and logistical support in sustaining personnel through injuries and long recoveries, and they provide a human lens on the realities faced by frontline units in contemporary conflicts. (Citation: as reported by a major Russian newspaper)