“The tape tells about a classified special operation of the Ukrainian military intelligence on the occupied peninsula.”, — write: www.unian.ua
The tape tells about a classified special operation of the Ukrainian military intelligence on the occupied peninsula.
On February 9, at 1:20 p.m., the 2+2 TV channel will premiere the documentary “Shadows on the Edge”, which tells about one of the most risky and classified special operations of the Ukrainian military intelligence in the occupied Crimea.
Operation “Crimea 2016” was the first attempt after the annexation of a full-fledged combat strike in the deep rear of the occupier. Its purpose was to destroy attack helicopters and the latest air defense systems deployed by Russia in the north of the peninsula, in Dzhankoya, and to create air superiority. The success of the operation could change the balance of power in the air over Crimea and call into question Russian military dominance in the region.
Kyrylo Budanov was directly involved in its preparation and implementation. He acted not only as a military intelligence officer, but as an architect of the plan and a leader who kept the whole picture in sight – from the idea to the last minutes of the group’s departure. He and the participants of the operation tell for the first time how in the summer of 2016 a group of the GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine carried out a deep raid on the peninsula, where the Russian special services considered themselves the sovereign masters.
The preparation lasted more than two months and was unprecedented in complexity, only its participants knew about it, but the complete picture actually existed only in the head of the commander.
The group did not operate through official checkpoints and without any signs of a military presence. The exit took place at night, under conditions where any mistake could lead to immediate exposure. They operated in three parallel groups: divers who delivered explosives and weapons; agents who came under the guise of civilians and a group of active actions.
However, the key moment of the operation did not go according to plan. On the way to the meeting point, the group was ambushed by the elite unit of the FSB Vimpel, one of the most professional in Russia. At night, a battle broke out at the cemetery near the village of Suvorove, from which the Huryvkas almost had no chance of getting out alive. That small group turned out to be smarter than the FSB machine.
The group managed to get out of the fight, avoid capture and save people. On their way back to Ukraine, the Hurivians covered 10 kilometers by sea at night and spent more than 6 hours in the water under the enemy’s sights.
Despite the incomplete combat plan, the special operation had a powerful strategic and political effect. The people of Huriv destroyed the myth of complete control of the FSB over Crimea, they proved that the topic of the peninsula is not closed and returned it to the international agenda.
“The operation had a huge political effect. At that time, everyone came to terms with the loss of Crimea, this issue was almost never raised. Immediately after this operation, the issue of Crimea was resuscitated. And it is even worth more than the systems that we finished anyway after 2022. For me personally, this operation proved that it is possible to do such a thing. It proved that the enemy and all these elite units are not as terrible as they are told and how they are imagine. Yes, we did not achieve the final goal, but we came out without losses and destroyed a very serious enemy.” – Kyrylo Budanov, who is currently the head of the President’s Office, notes in the film.
The documentary film “Shadows on the Border” was created for the 2+2 TV channel by Odesa Film Production LLC with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine and the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine.
Author of the scenario: Serhiy Karyuk. Director: Maxim Khotilenko.
This is a story about professionalism, the limit of human capabilities and the price to be paid for resistance.
Don’t miss the details of the unique operation, exclusive first-hand details from the people of Hura and why it was not possible to realize the plan – in the documentary film “Shadows on the Border” on TV channel 2+2 already on February 9 at 1:20 p.m.
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