A fighter with the call sign "Makhno" is a fighter of the "Artan" active operations unit of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU). He is over 50 years old. At the beginning of the full-scale war, he, having no combat experience, joined the territorial defence forces, then joined the ranks of the DIU "Artan" active operations unit.
In an interview with online.ua, "Makhno" told how Kyrylo Budanov, DIU chief, behaves with the enemy in critical situations, the preparation of the active operations unit "Artan" for combat sorties, the DIU's radio interceptions, special ops on Russian territory, and about traitors-collaborators.
Everyone is like one family in the "Artan" unit
"Makhno", from the first days, joined the territorial defence where he lived. He was assigned to participate in the security of the local airport.
Later, when it became clear that the enemy would not enter his city, he participated in hostilities.
"Makhno" says that he has been thinking about working in the DIU for a long time, so he took all measures to get there.
He needed something more, and more was to participate in special operations. The guys with him in the territorial defence were already in this unit, including the commander.
I understood the Commander's philosophy: he has a friendly attitude towards the personnel. He built such a relationship in the unit that we are like one family.
Makhno
"Artan" fighter
We eliminated over 100 high-ranking enemies
According to the DIU "Artan" unit soldier, operations are planned and unplanned.
During the special forces work, the emphasis is placed on personnel preservation first.
We take great care of our staff. We have been secured.
"Makhno" shared with us the history of the special operation, which should have prepared the Armed Forces for appropriate actions.
We eliminated many enemy personnel, including senior officers who held top positions in the enemy's Armed Forces. This statistic is closed for today. We can say there are over one hundred people.
Makhno
"Artan" fighter
In addition, combat positions, ammunition warehouses, and their weapons were also liquidated there.
Having completed the task, our fighters waited for the command to leave. The radio station reported that a Russian helicopter was flying directly at them, but the Ukrainian MANPADS system was far away and did not hit the enemy.
The DIU "Artan" active ops unit commander with the call sign "Titan" told the soldiers on the radio station: "Fellas, if you have any RPG, hit it with something. He [the enemy — ed.] will think it is an RPG and immediately escape from here."
"Makhno" said to the grenade launcher: "Stand and fire him." He fired, and indeed, the Russian helicopter thought they were shooting from the Stinger and flew away.
After that, the special forces fighters were ordered to leave the shelter and maintain a circular defence. Taking a position with his back to the road, "Makhno" heard someone approaching from his brothers-in-arms' side.
I hear: "Guys, you're doing well! You completed the task, everything is fine." I turn around and look, seems like Budanov. I'm looking again. It is Budanov! Such level of a commander to enter such a depth, such a territory.
How Budanov ordered the Russians to surrender
A fighter from a neighbouring unit was captured during one of the operations. After taking his radio station, the "Makhno" brothers reported this to the headquarters.
The Russians offered to exchange the Ukrainian fighter for the opportunity to leave. They were in positions whose coordinates were known to the special unit, which could eliminate them with artillery.
The nature of their structure, says "Makhno", is to root for every person and win back every person, to fight for the lives of fighters. That's why, at first, the commanders said: "Why do we need those bastards? Let them hand over our soldier and go from there."
The DIU chief was at the control post at that time. He took the initiative into his own hands, took over the radio station and began to negotiate with them.
He said: "Listen here, you're not going anywhere. We have all your positions. If something suddenly happens to our guy, we will cover you with artillery in that case. I have no other option for you to offer you: you give us our man and surrender. Otherwise, we will turn everything into ashes there right now, and you won't be able to get out. This is what General Budanov told you. Do you know such a person? If you don't know, look it up on the Internet."
It worked instantly. "Makhno" says the Russians "sh*t their pants", surrendered and handed over the Ukrainian fighter.
"Makhno" shared that he saw then that the DIU, Lieutenant General Budanov, has a cold mind who does not give in to emotions.
"Artan" unit brotherhood
"Makhno" says that he consciously went to the fact that anything could happen, that he could die or be injured. But he believes it doesn't depend on him as a person of faith. Everyone has their destiny, and everyone has their time.
If the soldiers of the unit are given leave for recovery after some special operation, then, says "Makhno", you will sit at home for a week, you will already be drawn back, you will miss your brothers-in-arms and that environment. When siblings have birthdays, a message is sent to the unit group: "Congratulations to the Artan family."
In fact, it is a real brotherhood in this unit. If we have an injury, everything is done to treat the person. If we have a funeral, the whole unit participates in it.
Russia opened a "second front" in the US and Europe
"Makhno" is convinced that Russia is fighting not only in the war zone but has also opened a "second front" in Europe and the USA, trying to weaken the support of Ukraine by its partners.
If we see that the Poles put up a poster at the border saying "Putin will bring order to both Ukraine and Brussels" and put up a "red rag" [flag of former USSR — Ed.], then it is clear what is it and where it comes from. Where did he get that "red rag"?
Makhno
"Artan" fighter
If you analyse this situation, says "Makhno", it is more aimed at Ukraine's closest neighbours.
When Ukraine and Poland argue, Russia wins
The special officer is convinced that blocking the Ukrainian-Polish border under the guise of social and economic problems is the biggest obstacle to the weapons supply to Ukraine.
Now the turning points are happening at the front, and the lack of weapons is the main problem. And when the border is closed, when the weapons are already moving, but the border is closed. In this case, Poland plays the biggest role here. What can you say to the Poles? Let them turn to their history.
Indeed, says Makhno, Ukraine and Poland are related peoples with a shared history. The fighter advises to read the book "With Fire and Sword" by the Polish writer Henryk Sienkiewicz, which describes the events of the 17th century during the time of Bohdan Khmelnytskyi.
Makhno is convinced that when Poles and Ukrainians argued and fought, Moscow won.
If the Poles are going to act like this now, let them not forget that Putin will not stop there. Russians have it in their blood. And what they did before, they want to repeat. They want to take permanent historical acts of revenge.
There are both patriots and collaborators
"Makhno" notes that a category of people have left Ukraine and settled somewhere, and nothing can bypass them.
If from that category of patriots, then mostly women left. Because the men, the patriots, stayed here.
Collaborators who chose their way either to the east or the west also escaped.
In our society, patriots and collaborators are still hidden and live among people in Ukrainian society.
Some reveal themselves, others do not and keep everything to themselves. They will be silent, but their beliefs are essentially collaborative. That is, says "Makhno", we now have a diverse society.
Each of us must participate in the victory
He is convinced that each of us should participate in the war. If we live together in peacetime and build a state, wartime should be the same.
In the same way now, during the war, everyone should be a part of that family because we are, in fact, one big family.
Call sigh "Makhno"
"Artan" fighter
The fighter with the call sign "Makhno" concluded that it doesn't matter whether it's the problem of the military or the problem of that soldier who risks his life because it's all the problem of every Ukrainian.
This is the problem of each of us. And everyone must realise and join in so that we can defeat the enemy in this war.
