Russian troops went on the offensive on February 24 without forming strike groups – Reznikov

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion of the Russian Federation into Ukraine on February 24, the occupiers launched an offensive without proper preparation. Yes, they did not form strike groups.

This was stated by the Minister of Defense of Ukraine, Oleksii Reznikov, in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda.

– As of February 24, the Russians have not created strike groups in the full sense of military art. I did not come up with this myself as a civilian, the military explained to me at the level of the General Staff that a strike group for an offensive requires certain features: management bodies, security bodies, hospitals, logistics chains, strike groups, etc., – he noted.

According to Reznikov, in fact, the Russian army went on the attack without forming these strike groups. As a result, successive deoccupation of Kyiv Region, Chernihiv Region, and Sumy Region became possible.

– I personally visited all our borders. Even during the semi-encirclement of Kyiv, General Sirsky and I went to the positions and awarded our soldiers. When I advanced to Chernihiv Region, I asked General Nikolyuk (commander of OC South, – Ed.): “What impressed you the most as a military man?” – says the minister.

The general was most impressed by how the Russians violated their own instructions and rules. According to them, first the artillery works out the territory, then the tanks come, and then the infantry. But they were so convinced that they would quickly take us that they left the artillery behind and went to Brovary with tanks and armored personnel carriers to capture Kyiv. And they also carried a formal uniform with them.

Reznikov says that this means that the occupiers went on the offensive without being ready. That is why their logistics chains were so easily cut. The same thing happened in Belarus.

– From the point of view of military art, we saw that they are not ready, and that is why we said that they need more time to form the final strike group – a week, two, three, – he added.