Officer of the GUR "Shaman": We began preparations for Russia's invasion back in 2021.

The commander of the GUR special unit "Shaman" shared insights in an interview with RBC-Ukraine about the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion, the operations he and his soldiers conducted, and whether a halt to the war is currently possible.

The hero of this interview has been fighting against the Russians since 2015. Following the start of the large-scale invasion, he—known by the call sign "Shaman"—and his comrades formed a special unit of the same name under the auspices of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense.

Shamanbat began the great war with battles in Hostomel and subsequently participated in several audacious operations both on the front line and behind enemy lines. "We can operate against the Russians beyond our continent," Shaman states.

In a comprehensive interview with RBC-Ukraine, he recalls events from three years ago, the preparations, and the onset of the Russian attack, discusses how individuals join their special unit, the operations they conduct, and what lies ahead for Russia.

– How did February 24, 2022, begin for you?

– I should probably mention that it did not come as a surprise to us. We were preparing for the start of a full-scale invasion. If we talk about the emotional component, it felt like the closure of a certain gestalt. The constant anticipation and tension during the preparation had begun to wear down the personnel. I understand that war – is a terrifying period. But it was the certainty and the state in which the question of choice disappeared that brought a certain relief.

Regarding the technical aspect, my team and I were at our central office, near General Budanov. Around 4:30 - 5:00 AM (I don’t remember the exact time), I heard the first explosions and internally understood that it had all begun – that is, "the start was given." The first thing I saw was the general stepping out of his office. He emerged looking completely composed, surveyed our team, and without any "preludes," immediately set the task. The task was to head to Hostomel Airport.

Let me try to paint this picture again: the office doors opened, we all fell silent, General Budanov scanned the reception area, saw me, and almost verbatim said, "Go to Hostomel Airport." That’s essentially all that stuck in the memory of both me and the guys who were in the reception area at that moment. There was perhaps a two-second pause to comprehend what was happening, and then the war machine kicked into gear... The room came alive, everyone started moving, gathering, loading up, and heading out. That was how February 24 began for me and my team.

– Am I correct in understanding that you were essentially heading there as reinforcements to assist the forces already stationed there?

– I can’t say that I clearly understood why I was going there. Because another of our special units was responsible for interaction with those units that were directly at the airport. I am unaware of what changes occurred that night in planning, but we received the command directly in the morning. And it was very clear – to prevent the enemy landing. All other tasks and clarifications I was supposed to receive on-site upon arrival.

– Is it correct to say that you were expecting and preparing for what was to come? So, you had information that a large invasion was going to happen?

– Yes, of course. I find it strange when I hear in the information space some claims that no one informed them (statements from certain military personnel that they were not told a war would happen - ed.). This behavior and rhetoric are odd. Apparently, only weak-willed individuals can voice such things. Because since spring 2021, General Budanov had been speaking about an impending invasion. I heard that rhetoric constantly. We began active preparations for the invasion in the fall of 2021 – training the first people and groups that were to operate in areas likely to be captured, partisan movements.

All these matters were prepared long before the invasion. The fact that the troops were being prepared is also a fact. We know which units were in which locations on that morning. Therefore, as I said, I find the rhetoric that someone did not know about the upcoming invasion to be strange.

– Tell us about that first day when you advanced to Hostomel. What happened next there?

– In reality, very little remains in my memory from the first day because there were too many various dramatic events that overshadowed less significant occurrences. However, there are several interesting, emotionally charged situations that vividly stand out in my memory.

First and foremost, I had experience working with army aviation. But despite my experience in armed conflicts—not only in Ukraine but globally—I had never been under air strikes. That’s quite an "interesting" experience. For the first time, I found myself in a situation where there was a Russian Ka-52 helicopter, I attempted to engage it and realized that firearms were basically just a reassurance for me—that I could shoot at that helicopter. I saw the mismatch between the means I had at my disposal and what the enemy possessed. That moment was emotionally significant for me because I understood that it wouldn't be easy. There was a certain fatalism in those emotions that lingered in my memory for quite some time.

The second interesting moment, in essence, was the opposite of the first emotion. I had an armored personnel carrier, the BTR-80, which is equipped with a heavy machine gun. One of my soldiers hit a Mi-8 helicopter that was approaching for landing and carrying Russian troops. I saw that one of the bursts hit the enemy helicopter, and it began to descend to make an emergency landing. This emergency landing occurred within their operational zone, within the enemy's operational area. However, the hit was still confirmed later. We captured a prisoner from that helicopter a few days later, who confirmed that the hit had indeed occurred.

But that moment when I realized that this was essentially my first enemy kill—when I first witnessed the enemy's might and subsequently understood that we could also strike back—was significant for me. Even despite the subsequent developments that occurred, I realized that the enemy could indeed be struck. It was not easy for them to execute a landing.

Yes, the landing of the troops was effectively successful. Yes, this was made possible due to a combination of factors: the coordination and preparation of the operation on the enemy's part and, accordingly, the lack of coordination and preparedness on our side.

Of course, after the enemy executed the landing, they came under fire, and there were many other interesting and heroic events associated with our special forces regiments and the airborne brigades that fought against the enemy in Hostomel. Unfortunately, I lost track of that moment as I received other commands, and by the evening of that day, I left the location at the airport in Hostomel.

But it was that initial landing that the enemy did not fully succeed in. They were supposed to land troops from transport planes—this did not happen due to a combination of factors: firstly, the runway was blocked, and secondly, the first landing by helicopters could not conduct a timely landing to secure a foothold. Everything went awry for them. I believe this is credited to the frontline units that, perhaps amidst the chaos, still managed to resist the enemy. There were border guards, national guardsmen, and conscripts fighting there. These are heroic guys who truly did much more than all the other units involved in defending the airport during the initial moments of the landing.

– It turns out that the very first resistance faced by the Russians when approaching Hostomel bought additional time for Kyiv and the surrounding areas. And it can be said that this disrupted the Russians' plans for a march into Kyiv.

– That is definitely the case. The Russians planned to capture a foothold – the airport, which they would then use as a logistics hub and accumulation point before advancing into Kyiv. That plan failed—they could not capture the foothold. The direct landing was successful, if that can be called so, despite the losses that the Russian army deemed acceptable. But the subsequent developments turned out to be unfavorable for them.

Thus, perhaps they completed their immediate task that day, but they did so late, violating all the timings established by the Russians during their planning. This led to their failure to fulfill their further mission, ultimately resulting in the Russians withdrawing from the Kyiv region.

– So, Hostomel. Where to next? Where are you and the soldiers from your special unit directed?

– The communication situation at that time was quite challenging and was conducted via mobile phones. As a unit accustomed to operating somewhat detached from the main forces, I did not receive a clear command or certainty about what was happening. The nature of our work requires that we always operate autonomously. Our presence at Hostomel Airport was also completely uncoordinated and unplanned. The main forces—the Armed Forces units, the National Guard units—were conducting their planned operations, and I could see that they had them. Perhaps not all