This is Episode 28 of Freedom Flights. This episode continues with events that began in the last episode.

Since the Kursk incursion now involves two Night Witches and in December is ongoing, this won’t be the last visit to Kursk. However, the first engagements with F-16s will now definitely be in Episode 29,  and the Witches will be able to use other NATO jets in their arsenal.

Until a just peace for Ukraine is reached, I will continue to write more episodes, never forgetting the brave people fighting for freedom. Let’s pray Western aid and weapons like F-16s continue to reach the frontlines and in time to change their fortunes.

Links to the previous episodes can be found on my Freedom Flights page via the left-hand sidebar.

Episode 28 – Freedom for Russia

2024

Tuesday, August 6^th – Sudzha, Kursk Oblast, Russia

            Kapitan Nadia Lysenko trusted her comrades not to betray their numerical predicament while she distracted the Russian conscripts. Eventually, the fifteen special forces returned with Lieutenant Lukyan Petrenko, and they could learn what the citizens of Sudzha wanted.

The Russian commander, Lieutenant Abrasha Makarov, agreed to negotiate over strong black tea with Lukyan and Nadia as the special forces scouted Sudzha again with Black Hornets.

“I can reassure you that nobody should come looking for us,” said Abrasha. “Even if anyone heard the shots. It is important that nobody gets killed, especially no civilians. Some are Ukrainian, some are Russian, and others are both. Nobody wants this city destroyed, please.”

“We will use your BMP-3 to enter the city with you as our means to approach your comrades. However, first, your men will remain here under armed guard, including our helicopter mini-gunner.”

“I believe I can trust her not to massacre them, although we know some dishonourable mercenaries who shoot their own comrades in the back. You have a second request?”

Lukyan nodded and then said, “The second is that eight of my men will be with us in the BMP while others remain close by using drones to watch what happens, and our snipers will ensure everything goes smoothly.”

*

Lieutenant Makarov directed the BMP-3 into Sudzha with guns at his back, so he stuck to Lukyan’s plan. Corporal Ruslan Medved drove with his friend Danylo as the gunner. Other than the nine special forces in the vehicle, there were two drone operators and two snipers shadowing them as they drove towards the undermanned barrack house.

Outside the building, a 2^nd Lieutenant greeted Abrasha.  

“We’re glad you’re back after that shooting. What happened? We need you for a serious card game, Abrasha.”

“Just practice shooting. Who’s inside, Dimitri…. enough for a game? Becos’ first, I have good news you all must hear now.”

“I’ll get the guys. There’s only four, as most went with you, except the two patrolling the neighbourhood.”

While Dimitri was fetching his comrades, six special forces slipped out and took up positions out of sight. A Black Hornet settled on a windowsill and another on a parked pickup.

When the four conscripts emerged with Dimitri, he shouted for Abrasha, who reappeared in his commander’s position in the BMP. As he talked, three special forces slipped into the barrack house.

“When we were sent to Sudzha, we befriended its people. And what did they ask us?”

“To protect them,” said Dimitri. “They prayed the war would never come here.”

“And it won’t,” said another conscript. “We’d ensure their safety.”

“How?” asked Abrasha. “By fighting for them? Or by persuading the enemy to protect them?’

The conscripts talked among themselves. Then Dimitri spoke for them.

“We’ve heard what happens to towns trapped in the middle of this war. They get destroyed, and the people lose everything. Do you agree, sir?”

“I do. For you, my men, and for the people we swore to protect. This is why the Ukrainian special forces are allowing you to surrender, and they promise to protect Sudzha and its people.”

“Will they execute us?” asked yet another conscript. “Isn’t it what they do?”

“No. That’s what immoral officers order. These won’t, as we would be POWs protected under the rules of war.”

“Where do we go to surrender?” asked Dimitri.

“Just turn round, and we must walk inside.”

Dimitri led the conscripts inside, and soon, Abrasha was followed by Lukyan and his forces.

*

The six men left to guard the relaxed prisoners could hear messages from the main incursion force, who were meeting minor resistance. While Cecilija kept a watch from her gun position, she was aware that Aline and Nadia were monitoring and then jamming Russian transmissions, having kept notes of key messages.

Eventually, they all heard Lukyan’s message.

“Thankfully, we have negotiated the bloodless surrender of the last six members of Lieutenant Makarov’s garrison. A truck will bring five more prisoners and further instructions. The rest of us are going to discuss terms with the Eastern Sudzha  Garrison in twenty minutes. Sierra Two over.”

The crew had discussed the implications of some messages for Sudzha, so Nadia said, “From Russian messages intercepted, we believe a contingent of ultra-nationalist Russians is heading for southeast Sudzha determined to use the city to stop the invasion. Does this change your plan? Sierra One over.”

“We’ll discuss this development, then call you back. Sierra Two out.”

The crew and Danylo discussed their options until they knew more.

“Five more prisoners takes them up to nineteen,” said Cecilija. “Which means we are ten, counting the driver, so we are outnumbered… but armed. How do Ukrainian special forces usually deal with prisoners, Danylo?”

He hesitated and then said, “Normally, we fight the enemy for longer, and many more are killed. These guys are recruits who were never trained to fight, and that’s unusual. Normally, my sympathy for POWs depends on whether they attempted to oppose the war.”

“Like Larisa Kovalyov, an opponent and now one of our chief mechanics,” said Nadia. “We need reinforcements if Lukyan doesn’t get back soon.”

 “How near is the main force?” asked Aline. “They must be close, given they have armoured units, and they set off after us expecting minimal resistance.”

Nadia checked the radar-generated digital map.  

“Within a kilometre on the main road, so I better meet them.”

She jumped out and legged it as she heard Cecilija call the senior guard over. With reinforcements, the dilemma was resolved.

A Marder 1A3 came around the bend and slowed when the commander saw her. She realised the machine gun was pointed at her, so raised her arms.

“I’m Kapitan Nadia Lysenko from the Sierra spearhead. Our helicopter is over there.”

The commander noted her Ukrainian flag plus her UAF badge and then told her to clamber onto the Marder. His driver followed her instructions, and they parked beside the truck from Sudzha and just beyond the NH90 Caïman. Six soldiers dismounted, followed by the commander, driver, and gunner.

The commander introduced himself while two Stryker infantry carrier vehicles drove towards the gathering.

“I’m Lieutenant Mykhail Moroz of the 80th Air Assault Brigade. Mission code: Tango. We wondered why the Russian defences were in a shambles. We’ve even had soldiers fleeing towards us. These can’t be all your troops. Where are they?”  

“Lieutenant Lukyan Petrenko commands the Sierra Spearhead. He negotiated the bloodless surrender of these conscripts from the Southern  Sudzha  Garrison.” She glanced at her watch. “Their commander is aiding his imminent negotiations with the Eastern Sudzha  Garrison. We can delay them if we act now.”

“Let me talk to him. I may have crucial news.”

Nadia led Mykhail into the Sierra as the two M1126 Stryker pulled in alongside the Marder.

“Any news from Lukyan?” said Nadia. ”Lieutenant Moroz needs to talk to him urgently.”

“He’s returning since the advance brigade was due to arrive,” said Aline

Within minutes, the BMP parked behind the NH90 Caïman. Lukyan climbed out, followed by Abrasha between Ruslan and Danylo.

Nadia led them inside the Sierra, where Mykhail was talking to Cecilija and Aline.

“I didn’t realise our flying ladies were from the awesome Night Witches”

“He’s Polina’s brother… you know Lukyan, our brilliant Tiger pilot with the goal-scoring leg,” said Nadia. “Anyway, Lieutenant Lukyan Petrenko, meet Lieutenant Mykhail Moroz of the 80th Air Assault Brigade.”

“Mykhail, this is Lieutenant Abrasha Makarov, Commander of the Southern Sudzha Garrison, who all surrendered to us. Nine of my men have occupied their building to monitor troop radio communications in the city.”

“My 2^nd Lieutenant, Dimitri, also wants to help avoid citizens dying,” said Abrasha.

“Too late,” said Mykhail. “Drone surveillance has confirmed a contingent of ultra-nationalist Russians is heading here from the southeast determined to make Sudzha the invasion’s graveyard, whatever the cost.”

“You have to stop them, please,” said Abrasha, and then smiled. “I’m stupid, a Russian officer asking Ukrainian officers to attack another Russian force.”   

“How can we trust you?” said Nadia. “You fired on us.”

“Only after you fired first. Our shot was only a warning.”

“As were ours. You did surrender very quickly. Unlike real soldiers,” said Nadia, shaking her head.

“What do you really want, Abrasha? Prison or home?” asked Mykhail.

“If I had a choice.” He paused, closing his eyes. “I dreamt of joining the Freedom for Russia Battalion and fighting against a regime oppressing dissenters. But that meant leaving… before mobilisation kicked in.”

“Does anyone share your view?” asked Lukyan.

“Most, although put to the test, a few might run.”

“Time to test them,” said Mykhail.

*

Not all nineteen Russian conscripts were willing to die for Ukraine and a better Russia; five felt POW status had more advantages. The fourteen who stood with their commander had to be divided among the four vehicles, although Lukyan agreed to shadow five, plus Abrasha. All of them knew a false move could see them taken prisoner again…. Or worse.

The 2nd Self-propelled Artillery Battalion from the 116th Separate Mechanized Brigade had also arrived with three AS-90s, along with a few soldiers already guarding three prisoners and willing to guard another five. Their three armoured self-propelled guns were set up to cover the southeast approaches using spotter drones to target the ultra-nationalist Russians

Mykhail took his Marder and two M1126 Stryker vehicles to block the southeast approaches to ensure any survivors, after the artillery barrage, were halted.

The Sierra crew waited while Ruslan drove Lukyan and his remaining special forces to the southern garrison building in Sudzha, followed by the garrison truck. Inside, Lukyan and Abrasha checked on the progress monitoring radio communications in the town.

“Every garrison seems aware some kind of cross-border raid has occurred,” said the corporal in charge. “However, they are unaware of the scale or that we have a foothold in Sudzha.”

“I have also convinced them that this garrison is still in Russian hands,” said Dimitri. “But a word from Lieutenant Makarov would reassure them.”

At a nod from Lukyan, Abrasha went to the radio.

“This is Lieutenant Abrasha Makarov. Apologies for my absence. I’ve been patrolling to the southwest in our BMP and saw no sign of the enemy, although we heard distant artillery fire. I’ll now be patrolling further east. Makarov out.”

He switched off and then turned to Lukyan.

“Should I have said more?”

“Not yet. First, everyone needs to know that along with Kapitan Nadia Lysenko and Lieutenant Mykhail Moroz of the 80th Air Assault Brigade, we have provisionally accepted fourteen of the conscripts under Lieutenant Abrasha Makarov’s command as mercenaries within the Ukrainian Ground Forces. All of them know a false move could see them taken prisoner again…. or worse. I hope there are no objections.”

He paused, but everyone nodded and remained silent.

“Dimitri, these men have observed you and know your beliefs. Do you want to fight for us against Putin’s minions, or do you want to be a POW and go home?”

He glanced around at the Ukrainians and hesitated before deciding.

“I’m with my commander. I share his principles. What next?”

Lukyan looked around the room.

“Time for this garrison to visit their Eastern neighbours. But there’s not enough room in the BMP, so Abrasha and Dimitri travel inside, and two of your guys ride outside. I’ll be inside with nine of my team. The other ten will take the truck with three of your guys. Corporal Ruslan Medved knows what to do next. Let’s go.”

Outside, they rearranged the two vehicles and left in opposite directions.

*

Ruslan pulled up alongside the Sierra and ordered everyone to board her.

“Tell the crew to prepare for takeoff… with your help if needed, clearing the camouflage. I’ll be back in a few. Wait for me, please.”

He waved and then drove to where Tango Four, the 2nd Self-propelled Artillery Battalion, had parked their support vehicles. He handed the keys to a trustworthy-looking sergeant.

“Present from the Russians via Special Forces. Treat her nicely. And tell the gunners to give the helicopter time to get away to the northeast.”

Grabbing his equipment from the cab, he then sprinted back to the NH90 Caïman and jumped in.

“Glad you could make it, Corporal Medved,” said Nadia. “We’re ready for takeoff. Where to this evening, somewhere exotic?”

“I wish. I’m afraid it’s not yet that. Head due east towards Makhnovka, but try to detect the Russians approaching from the southeast.”

Nadia lifted Sierra off while Aline scanned all around.

“Enemy one kilometre ahead and heading towards Sudzha,” said Aline.  “Evade or engage?”

 “Evade. Cecilija, transmit our false Russian ID, and then intercept their transmissions. Radio their position to all Tango units,” said Ruslan. “Pilots, keep heading east until out of range of artillery fire. Then head north until you can find a safe landing so my team can support Tango armour.”

“Understood,” said Aline. “We have located a safe landing near Tango armour’s location”

Nadia landed Sierra on the west bank of the river that eventually ran through Sudzha. The special forces jumped out, and all but two moved off towards the distant armoured vehicles. The remaining two soldiers helped Cecilija set up the helicopter’s miniguns and then introduced themselves.

“I’m Albina, and the quiet guy is Demyan. We volunteered to help you guard our best form of transport around here. He may not say much, but he’s a great gunner. I’m just a sniper, so I’ll fetch my weapon of choice.”

She emerged from the rear of the NH90 Caïman with a long rifle in two pieces and dressed in a ghillie suit and carrying night gear.

“Is that a SnipeX Alligator,” asked Nadia. “Some of our Night Witches stopped one of the main smuggling rings trying to obtain them for the enemy.”

“Great work,” said Albina. “I’d hate to think I was going out there and facing a Russian with such a deadly weapon.”

She jumped lightly out of Sierra and walked into the night.

“I’ll be covering you from the trees on the rise,” said Albina on her income. “I should have the range to also take out Russians threatening our guys.”

*

The artillery barrage lit up the night sky. From the frantic Russian orders, Lieutenant Mykhail Moroz knew that they were in disarray but still heading for Sudzha… and towards his concealed armoured units. He had ensured the Marder and two Strykers would ambush the enemy where they would be squeezed between the steep ground and mined hedges. His thirty infantry were positioned to keep the Russians pinned down.

Once they were in range, his Marder gunner fired the 20 mm Rheinmetall MK20 Rh202 autocannon’s armour-piercing rounds at the lead Russian tank, blowing its turret off. The first Stryker opened fire with its .50 calibre M2 Browning machine gun as crew and infantry scurried for cover. The second Stryker pounded the other enemy vehicles with its 40mm MK19 grenade launcher as the Marder continued to disable armour.

However, some Russian infantry scaled the steep ground, attempting to outflank the Tango ambush. The concealed soldiers shot some, while others were taken down by the special forces coming up the road behind them. An unseen sniper took out those who fled east towards the NH90 Caïman.

*

Lieutenant Lukyan Petrenko was attempting to convince an intractable commander when the Tango barrage occurred.

“How do you justify that?” the commander asked, as his garrison’s radio clearly picked up Russians being attacked and heading for Sudzha and sanctuary.”

“They’re the ones who will get Sudzha destroyed,” said Lieutenant Abrasha Makarov. “They don’t care about our citizens. Who are we meant to be protecting? Them or ourselves?”

The sound of fighting grew louder as the ultra-Russians ran into the Tango ambush.

“My duty is to my comrades in arms. You’ll have to choose Makarov. I’m no traitor like you.”

Lukyan ordered half of his men to help Makarov while the other half took the BMP to help Tango. He stayed with Makarov.

*

Albina realised some of the Russians had launched a Kamikaze drone to hunt her down. There was no way she could radio for help without alerting the drone.

The drone scoured the ground using the last position where she’d been spotted. It tracked closer.

A second drone moved above her. Taking a shot might be her last act. But the second drone disabled the first, captured it and carried it across to the helicopter.

Albina rose and ran in a zig-zag crouch down the rise. Shots whizzed past her as the pursuing Russians kept firing. A bullet winged her, and she tumbled to the ground, rolling. Her heart was pounding as she crawled to Demyan, who grabbed her and her precious Alligator. He heaved her into the NH90 Caïman, which was lifting into the air as Albina blacked out.

Aline flew low over the trees on the rise, then dropped lower so Cecilija could strafe the Russians, reacting too late to the appearance of a helicopter.

“How close can we land to you, Tango One?” asked Nadia. “Sierra over.”

“We’ve cleared an area where the road divides in a V. Flare marks the far edge. Tango out.”

Three armoured vehicles secured the three roads, and Aline landed where indicated.

“Manned roadblocks also secure the perimeter of the area,” said Mykhail. “The are some armed Russians attempting to regroup, but Lukyan and his Special Forces are gradually eliminating them unless they flee back into Sudzha.”

“How many casualties?” asked Nadia.

Mykhail contacted his officers for their figures.

Five minutes later, he knew.

“18 seriously wounded needing treatment, ten walking wounded, and seven dead. Four of the fatalities were our Russian allies killed when the Eastern Garrison refused to surrender. One has gone AWOL, the 2^nd Lieutenant called Dimitri.”

“When are the seriously wounded likely to get treated?” asked Nadia.

“Not until the medical units reach us,” replied Mykhail. “If you can medivac them, they have a better chance.”

Nadia went to talk with her crew sisters in Sierra about the seriously wounded.

“Nineteen with Albina,” said Cecilija. “She’s losing blood. If the armoured vehicles have stretchers, I could cannibalise a medivac bay.”

*

Thirty minutes later, Cecilija had a usable medivac bay and Nadia was persuading Lukyan of their plan.

“It’s a risk, but the front can be crossed,”  said Nadia. “Enemy surveillance won’t expect a Ukrainian helicopter flying out of Russia, and we can ensure our side expects us. Are you sure you don’t need us?”

“Totally sure, and many thanks for another exceptional flight here. But I need a favour,” said Lukyan. “Ruslan Medved is seriously wounded and on his way. Save him, please.. for his sister.”

Nadia agreed and turned to her crew sisters.

“Can we take one more patient? We need to consider weight and fuel.”

Cecilija calculated all the parameters but shook her head.

“We can’t ditch the guns as this return flight is more dangerous,” said Nadia.

“What about Albina’s Alligator?” asked Aline.

“It’s too light and too dangerous in enemy hands,”  said Nadia, noting how the armoured seats had become part of the medivac bay.

When Ruslan arrived inside the BMP, Nadia noted his build.

“He’s heavy set, and there’s a simple solution,” said Nadia. “I’m taking the next flight out. Probably you guys when you persuade Maksym you’re essential,”

She jumped out and slid the main left-hand door shut, ignoring the protests. She walked towards Mykhail.

“You’re stuck with me until the next flight out.”

**

Slava Ukrayini

 MP 3,263 words