Oleksii Shuhailo, Commander of the 132nd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion, 7th Rapid Response Corps, Air Assault Forces, Armed Forces of Ukraine

Relentless Pressure: Enemy Forces Destroyed Daily Despite Infiltration Attempts

Since the beginning of the full-scale war, the 132nd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion has carried out missions in the Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Donetsk regions, and took part in the Kursk operation. Currently, its servicemen are destroying the enemy in the Pokrovsk and Oleksandrivka sectors.

In an interview with Ukrinform, Lieutenant Colonel Oleksii Shuhailo, commander of the 132nd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion within the 7th Rapid Response Corps of the AFU Air Assault Forces, spoke about the most significant operations, the heroism of his soldiers, enemy tactics, and why they are increasingly surrendering. He also discussed the specialists the unit currently needs and the skills required of a modern reconnaissance soldier.

ON THE COMMANDER’S AND HIS BATTALION’S COMBAT PATH

Q: Tell us about yourself. When did you join the Armed Forces of Ukraine, where did you serve, and when did you become a commander?

A: In 2013, after finishing the ninth grade, I enrolled in the Luhansk Military Lyceum. I studied there for less than a year, as in 2014 the Anti-Terrorist Operation began, and in May we urgently went on leave. We hoped that everything would be over by the start of the next academic year, that is, by September. However, in mid-August a decision was made to transfer us to the Kyiv Ivan Bohun Military Lyceum, where I completed my second year. After that, in 2015, I entered the Military Academy in Odesa, at the faculty that trained specialists for the Air Assault Forces and the Marine Corps.

In 2019, I was assigned to the 81st Separate Airmobile Brigade as a platoon commander. In March 2024, I was appointed Chief of Staff—Deputy Commander of the 132nd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion. On December 29, 2025, I became the commander of this military unit.

Q: In which operations did your unit participate before and during the full-scale war?

A: Before February 2022, we took part in combat operations of the Joint Forces Operation, mainly in the Luhansk region: in Stanytsia Luhanska and Shchastia, where we conducted reconnaissance.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the battalion participated in the liberation of Kyiv region, namely Chornobyl and Prypiat. After that—fighting in the Izium sector, for Bakhmut, for the settlement of Lysivka in Donetsk region, in the counteroffensive in Zaporizhzhia. Also in the Kursk operation, and we liberated settlements during the Dobropillia operation.

Q: Which operations since 2022 do you consider the most significant for the battalion?

A: The counteroffensive in Zaporizhzhia, as well as the Kursk and Dobropillia operations. It was in these operation where the servicemen proved themselves exceptionally well. All tasks assigned to the personnel were carried out in full.

ENEMY FORCES DISPLAY WEAK TRAINING STANDARDS

Q: Which destroyed enemy targets are you most proud of?

A: I am proud of every completed mission that I assign to my personnel.

For example, on the Oleksandrivka axis, servicemen of one of my battalion’s reconnaissance units cleared enemy firing positions where the enemy was located. There were various methods and approaches to accomplishing this task. At first, we tried to assault by throwing grenades at the enemy. But we realized it wasn’t working, because the fortifications were so strong that neither grenades, nor FPV drones, nor heavy bombers could penetrate them.

So we decided that three reconnaissance soldiers would prepare demolition charges, approach the firing positions at close range, withdraw, and then detonate them, after which they would return to their previous position. In this way, we destroyed both the shelters and the enemy inside.

This stood out to me because soldiers who are ready to approach fortifications at point-blank range and carry an 8-kilogram demolition charge must have real inner strength. I am proud of how this mission was carried out and of the fact that the reconnaissance troops did not hesitate, acting under the clear leadership of the company commander and myself.

Perhaps during the first detonation they felt some fear, but afterward they realized they had succeeded, and their motivation surged—they even wanted to continue destroying those shelters, but there were no more enemy positions left to clear.

Q: Who has the battalion been facing as the enemy? Perhaps elite Russian units or foreign mercenaries?

A: As for the current situation, I cannot say that enemy units are well trained.

The prisoners we captured (on the Oleksandrivka axis — ed.) were servicemen of mechanized units with a low level of training, who had previously been in places of detention, and it is unclear how they ended up in the army. They are not very motivated. They were told to advance, they infiltrated, which had no strategic significance for us, and we drove them out.

In 2023–2025, the enemy in marine infantry and airborne units (VDV) was at times even very well trained. But it did not help them, because those servicemen died just like the others.

RUSSIANS CONSISTENTLY SEND PERSONNEL ON A ONE-WAY TRIP

Q: Where is the battalion currently operating? What is the situation there, and how are you managing to counter the enemy?

A: The battalion is carrying out missions on the Pokrovsk and Oleksandrivka axes.

We clearly understand that today no operation—offensive or defensive—takes place without FPV drones, both on our side and the enemy’s. We are observing an increase in the number of FPVs on the enemy’s side, but at the same time we are scaling up our own, as well as our strike UAVs.

As for infantry, Russian tactics have not changed. These are so-called “meat grinder assaults,” or personnel being sent on one-way missions using vehicles, including motorcycles. We detect this in advance and consistently eliminate the enemy on a daily basis, no matter how they try to advance or infiltrate.

Q: In early March, there were reports that the 132nd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion broke through the enemy’s defensive line on the Oleksandrivka axis, preventing them from advancing. How was this achieved?

A: Not only battalion units were involved in that. Various military units took part, including Air Assault Forces units. This is the credit of the entire Air Assault Forces grouping conducting operations on the Oleksandrivka axis.

 ON THE HEROISM OF RECONNAISSANCE TROOPS IN KURSK AND DONETSK REGIONS

Q: Your battalion has also reported that on the Oleksandrivka axis, Russians are increasingly surrendering. Why is that?

A: Because they have no way out. Everyone wants to live. The enemy’s tactics have not changed, as I’ve already said—they push their personnel deep into infiltration positions to the point where they cannot supply them with water, food, or ammunition. As a result, they can sit for one or two weeks in some hole without food, water, support, or communication. And when our servicemen come to clear a forest belt or a settlement, only a very small percentage resist us. Most have no better option than to surrender.

Q: Could you share some stories of your soldiers’ heroism that stood out the most?

A: In the Kursk region, four of our servicemen from a support unit, who had a handheld grenade launcher besides rifles, were tasked with covering reconnaissance troops on the front line. When North Korean troops entered the settlement of Makhnovka, our soldiers abandoned the grenade launcher because the distances were too short to use it effectively, and engaged in combat with small arms.

The four of them faced about 15 North Koreans, most of whom they eliminated. They achieved such success that the remaining North Korean troops simply turned around and fled back into the tree line they had advanced from, which is not typical for them.

The fighters held their position and continued to cover the reconnaissance troops, who were carrying out clearing operations.

Another moment that stands out occurred in September 2025, during the liberation of the settlement of Kucheriv Yar in Donetsk region. Everything happened very quickly—within two weeks, about 30 enemy soldiers were eliminated and 50 were taken prisoner, while our reconnaissance troops were outnumbered two to one. I am proud that the servicemen accomplished such a mission. It wasn’t only reconnaissance troops, but also support units—UAVs, FPV drones, and the command element.

WE GIVE EVERYONE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHOOSE A POSITION

Q: I read an interview with an intelligence officer from one of the brigades who said that not everyone can become a reconnaissance soldier. Do you agree? What skills should a modern reconnaissance soldier have?

A: I fully agree. First and foremost, a reconnaissance soldier must have a high level of physical fitness. When there is a route to deliver personnel to a certain area, this can be done with quad bikes or armored vehicles. But there are routes where it is too dangerous to travel by vehicle. In such cases, I rule out transport, because I do not want them to be wounded or killed. It is better for servicemen to walk 10–12 kilometers, complete the mission, and return on foot. To cover such a distance in body armor and with weapons requires a high level of training.

This is not only my opinion—junior commanders and the servicemen themselves agree with it. After each mission, I personally visit the reconnaissance troops, we conduct an after-action review, and discuss everything.

A reconnaissance soldier also needs strong intellectual abilities. To accomplish missions, one must be able to navigate terrain well and be proficient with both individual and crew-served weapons.

Q: What specialists does your battalion currently need, and what does it take to join?

A: We definitely need more personnel. First and foremost—UAV pilots: reconnaissance drones, FPV drones, heavy bombers, as well as operators of ground robotic systems, since this is a rapidly developing area for us. We also continue to recruit conventional reconnaissance soldiers, as they remain the core of our battalion.

To join us, all that’s required is the willingness. We welcome every serviceman. On our side, we will train you, show you everything, and explain everything.

We give everyone the opportunity to choose a position. For example, if a person wants to become a UAV operator, we conduct a short interview and assess their abilities. If we see they are a good fit, we take them; if not, we offer a closely related position.

Iryna Chyrytsia, Zhytomyr

Photo credit: 132nd Separate Reconnaissance Battalion of the AFU Air Assault Forces