Combat commander of the 3rd OShBr, Oleg Romanov: The infantry has dug in, but how long can they hold their ground?
Regarding the state of the Ukrainian army and the situation at the front – in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, commander of the anti-tank battalion of the 3rd OShBr, Oleg "Romakha" Romanov, shared his insights. Below are the main points of the conversation; the full interview can be found on the RBC-Ukraine YouTube channel.
About the Front and Enemy Plans
The last year of war has been extremely challenging for the Ukrainian army. Hellish battles in the Donetsk region, attempts to break through in Kharkiv, and the Kursk operation – years of war provide experience but deplete resources.
Despite all the attention currently focused on events in Donbas, the Kharkiv direction remains very complicated. The Russians are constantly trying to storm this section of the front. In recent weeks, there have been certain successes for the enemy in Kharkiv, allowing them to create a foothold for capturing routes towards Izium.
"I believe that Izium is a certain key to Donbas. Because it is the last artery that supplies our entire agglomeration in the form of Druzhkivka-Kostyantynivka, which are currently defending Toretsk and Chasiv Yar. Therefore, not everything is as sweet in the Kharkiv direction," says Oleg Romanov.
The commander adds that, despite the media hype, the front is not collapsing. "Our front is not crumbling; we have a certain cohesiveness. This cohesiveness prevents us from collapsing the front in such a manner. There is a certain responsibility because peaceful places are behind us, as well as our families. And I think that this will not happen here," the military is convinced.
It is no secret that Russia significantly outmatches Ukraine in resources – both human and technical. Our forces critically need more weapons. According to "Romakha", the issue of providing the army with armaments has been failing since 2014. When it was necessary to build ammunition factories, instead, they were repairing roads, he states without any irony. This has played a cruel trick on us, believes the interlocutor.
However, the situation is indeed improving now, Romanov adds. Supplies of weapons and ammunition are being distributed more timely and wisely. Yet, even despite this, Ukrainians are still lagging behind the enemy, which has been planning to capture Crimea and establish a land route from the peninsula to Russia since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Currently, besides the areas where fighting is ongoing, "Romakha" believes that the enemy also wants to control southern Ukraine. Because the Russian Federation considers these lands "theirs," supposedly inherited from the Russian Empire.
Can Trump Stop the War?
During his election campaign and throughout the war in Ukraine, new U.S. President Donald Trump repeatedly claimed that he could end the war in 24 hours. However, after winning the election, he gave an ambiguous answer regarding the reduction of armaments and blamed Europe for insufficient support.
At the same time, many controversial messages circulated claiming that the previous U.S. President Joe Biden did not provide enough weapons to continue counteroffensive actions after the successful operation of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to de-occupy the Kharkiv region. Unfortunately, sometimes insufficient support from partners plays a crucial role; it affects defense capability and, in the long term, operations to liberate territories.
"Currently, Ukrainian infantry is digging its teeth into the ground, it stands firm. But how long can it hold out when some soldiers have been in position for 52 days?" – says "Romakha".
Despite the great need for support from the West, we should not rely solely on Trump, expecting that the war will end in 24 hours, or conversely, escalate into a more severe phase. In any case, it mainly depends on the Ukrainians themselves, as no one else will don armor and go to the front lines to maintain the defense.
"Romakha" believes that all peacekeeping missions will be featured in the headlines of Western media from the first day of their presence in Ukraine, with messages suggesting that troops should be withdrawn from Ukraine. This is not the kind of war America has participated in before, says Oleg. Regarding Trump, the military reminds that this president was the first in 2019 to provide Ukraine with Javelin anti-tank systems, which allowed for preparation back then.
Reserves and Personnel Shortages
Infantry is the front line of combat confrontation, and soldiers often have to stay for long periods because the army simply lacks personnel. There is no one to replace those currently holding a specific section, and their departure without replacement means simply losing that area.
"If our infantryman could see that yes, he has a year, he needs to live through that year and survive. He would want to go out on every mission to survive. But when he goes out and sits there for 25 days... He remains in that position. He loses vigilance. He starts taking off his bulletproof vest, he begins to neglect his safety," says "Romakha".
The lack of rest and rotations leads to fatal consequences. Ultimately, no matter how much enthusiasm there is, physical and moral resources are still depleted. To maintain effective defense in the future, the military needs reinforcements, at least to have the ability to step back from positions for recovery.
"Unfortunately, a soldier gets used to the situation he is in. And it is the most extreme environment on our planet. This is not some war with pirates guarding oil in the Nigerian delta. This is the bloodiest war since the end of World War II," concludes the commander.
The issue of personnel replenishment is currently of utmost importance. Through Russian IPSO, more narratives about "draft dodgers" are spreading online. At the same time, "Romakha" believes that Ukraine has also failed in its information policy regarding mobilization.
"Unfortunately, no one will want to join the army when the entire TikTok is currently filled with various discrediting messages about the Armed Forces of Ukraine. TikTok has probably been banned in the army since the beginning of 2022. It is a tool for developing and destabilizing certain states. A tool for spreading IPSO. But this tool can be used by both sides. And I believe that our expenditures on the Ministry of Culture should have been directed precisely towards these videos. We needed to win here," believes the commander.
An important factor is financial support. In this aspect, the enemy also prevails, as they provide substantial payments to "new recruits" even at local levels. A Russian understands that he signs a contract, receives $30,000, and can comfortably resolve all his financial issues. Our country should also find resources for financial support, as this is an additional motivation that aids mobilization, Romanov is convinced.
Motivation in the Third Assault Brigade
The personnel of the 3rd OShB are quite diverse. Besides those who participated in the Kyiv campaign at the beginning of its formation, there are now: contract soldiers, conscripts, former prisoners, and volunteers from other countries. Many wish to join the anti-tank battalion led by "Romakha".
"It so happened that once correctly placed staffing decisions bore fruit. And people stand firm. We had a fighter who flew on FPV and wanted to join the infantry. He got injured in the chest during that sortie. He 'knocked out' three, participated in several assaults, and held the defense there for a certain time. So, the person came recently; he came to FPV. Is there motivation? Yes! And it's not just because we are the Third Assault Brigade," recounts "Romakha".
Fighting Near Izium
The 3rd OShB is currently positioned in the Kharkiv direction. The enemy is achieving certain successes, despite the brigade constantly moving and digging backup firing positions. However, some of the defense lines are becoming irrelevant for certain reasons, and new ones must be dug.
"To be honest, we are standing on such thin ice right now. Because we need more infantry for such a large front," says "Romakha".
Due to the small number of personnel holding large lines, gaps in the defense line appear, which the enemy exploits. The Russian tactic is to find such gaps and infiltrate with small infantry groups.
"Today, they managed to get too close to one of my positions. We sent a cleanup group there. But this poses certain problems because these are anti-tank soldiers. They will need to engage if a mechanized push starts now. But how can they operate when there is an infantry battle going on?" – explains the commander.
Fortification Structures
In many areas of the front, defense forces are forced to make tactical withdrawals. Unfortunately, there is a tendency to "step on one's own rake" and expect a different outcome. According to "