Inside the Secret World of Ukraine's Elite Special Forces: Unconventional Tactics to Liberate Crimea

A group of Ukrainian jet skis swiftly maneuvers through the vast ocean, their presence concealed under the cover of the night sky. A drone, equipped with an infra-red camera, captures their movements from above, the only means of visibility. As they draw closer to the shoreline, they reduce their speed to avoid detection, eagerly making their way onto solid ground.

In video footage obtained by CNN, one of the individuals, clutching a Ukrainian flag, boldly affirms, "Crimea shall remain Ukrainian."

The soldier, known by the call-sign "Muzykant," was a violinist who joined Ukraine's special forces. Muzykant currently serves as the squad leader of the Bratstvo battalion, which, alongside Ukraine's defense intelligence and other units, recently conducted an infiltration into Crimea.

Reflecting on the intense experience, Muzykant stated, "I was filled with adrenaline throughout the entire operation. It was all a blur, and it wasn't until we returned to our base that I truly grasped that we had accomplished an enormous mission."

That action in early October involved Ukraine's special forces infiltrating Russia's largest stronghold in occupied Ukraine. It is part of a recent trend where Kyiv has escalated its attacks on the peninsula. The precise date and time of the attack have not been disclosed.

A view shows the Crimean bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the peninsula across the Kerch Strait, Crimea, July 17, 2023.REUTERS/StringerTPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Stringer/Reuters

Ukraine's recent attention on Crimea is met with skepticism by some within the Biden administration.

Muzykant was among a group of 10 soldiers from the Bratstvo battalion who carried out a nocturnal attack on Crimea, collaborating with other Ukrainian units. Although the exact number of operatives involved remains uncertain, they navigated through turbulent waters on larger speedboats before switching to inconspicuous jet skis as they approached the peninsula. Racing towards the coastline, they successfully demolished Russian military equipment positioned along the shore and swiftly retreated, completing the mission within a few hours.

The goal was not only to sabotage military equipment situated near the shore, but also to communicate a message to Ukrainian citizens in the area.

"We did this to ensure that the people in Ukraine and occupied Crimea maintain their optimism and continue to believe in Crimea's reunification with Ukraine," Muzykant explained. In 2014, Russian forces unlawfully seized Crimea. The peninsula holds great significance to Russian President Vladimir Putin and serves as a crucial logistical hub for the Kremlin's military operations.

The soldier with the call-sign 'Muzykant' said he believes the danger he incurs on these missions is worth it.

Vasco Cotovio/CNN

Muzykant said the dangerous operation took months of planning to prepare the Ukrainian soldiers for the many risks they would face.

During our landing, we encountered a turbulent sea with waves reaching up to 2 meters (6.6 feet), as shared by the speaker. Additionally, the Russian warships, named the Raptors, were actively patrolling the area. This fleet consisted of four ships, each manned by a crew of 20 Russian soldiers armed with heavy machine guns and a 30-millimeter gun. Despite these challenges, the Bratstvo battalion successfully maneuvered through these obstacles and accomplished their mission upon reaching the peninsula.

"We underwent extensive training for the mission, ensuring that everyone understood their assigned roles and responsibilities on the shore," Muzykant explained. "During our return journey, Russian warships pursued us, but we successfully evaded capture."

No soldiers from the Bratstvo battalion suffered injuries or were taken as prisoners, although Ukrainian defense intelligence recognized some losses, without disclosing specific information. They also reported that the casualties on the Moscow side were considerably higher.

The Bratstvo Batallion says they were the first Ukrainian units to make it onto occupied Crimea.

Moscow announced that it had apprehended a Ukrainian soldier who had infiltrated Crimea, sharing footage of his questioning on national TV, yet it declined to disclose any casualties on the Russian side.

Muzykant is willing to put himself at risk of capture, injury, or death for the missions he deems essential. He stated that their actions not only provide moral support to the people in Crimea but also assist our forces in the trenches. "By diverting the enemy's attention towards us, we compel them to shift their personnel and vehicles to the Crimean seaside."

The Crimean front

Octobers assault was one of many that Ukrainian forces have carried out on the peninsula in recent months.

In September, the headquarters of Russia's Black Sea Fleet in the Crimean city of Sevastopol fell victim to strikes. These strikes utilized the Storm Shadow missiles, which were seemingly donated by the United Kingdom for long-range purposes. Additionally, Ukraine has targeted the Kerch bridge, which connects Crimea to mainland Russia, on multiple occasions.

The Black Sea Fleet's dry docks were struck by Kyiv's forces on September 13, causing damage to a Russian ship and a submarine. Additionally, Ukraine has conducted numerous attacks on the Saki air base, which is used by Russia to launch some of its attack aircraft.

A satellite image shows Sevastopol after a Ukrainian missile attack, in Crimea September 13, 2023.

BlackSky/Reuters

Ukraine has identified the ships that were targeted in the Sevastopol attack, stating that it has caused "irreparable loss" to Russia. Despite Russia's threats of retaliation and labeling the attacks as "acts of terrorism," Ukraine has persisted in conducting strikes on the peninsula. While there have been prior speculations about Kyiv's special forces operating in Crimea, their presence gained more prominence following the amphibious raid in October.

Dmytro Korchynskyi, a co-founder of the Bratstvo units and a key strategist behind the surgical strike, emphasized the significance of attacking the peninsula as an essential component of Ukraine's counteroffensive. According to Korchynskyi, Crimea remains a heavily fortified military base that Russia continues to perceive as secure. Therefore, capturing Crimea is crucial for our mission. Additionally, Korchynskyi highlighted the imperative of this operation from a military-political standpoint, stressing that Crimea should not be forgotten as Ukrainian territory, and that we will consistently maintain a presence there.

"We are engaged in a grueling battle at the forefront, and victory is not always apparent. Such strategic operations carried out in the rear or at sea serve as a source of inspiration and invigoration for our troops to persevere," he stated.

Furthermore, although targeting Russian assets through the use of drones and missiles holds significance, he asserts that having Ukrainian soldiers on the ground effectively diverts Moscow's attention and compels Russia to redeploy its resources.

Bratstvo battalion founder and adviser, Dmytro Korchynskyi says attacks on Crimea are "vital" for Ukraine's war effort.

Vasco Cotovio/CNN

"Every soldier that is guarding the beach is one that is not present at the Zaporizhzhia front," he said.

Those operations behind enemy lines, deep into Russian controlled territory, are reliant on support from the local population, Korchynskyi said.

Monitoring military facilities

Ukrainian citizens living under Russian occupation have been organizing themselves into resistance groups known as Partisans. These groups have been actively operating in occupied areas of Ukraine, particularly in Kherson, Melitopol, and even Crimea.

One specific group in Crimea is called Atesh, which translates to "fire" in the Tartar language. While the group agreed to share information with CNN, they chose to communicate through an encrypted messaging service and declined speaking on camera to ensure the protection of their members' identities.

Atesh declined to comment on their potential involvement in the September attack on the Black Sea fleet's headquarters in Sevastopol. However, they stressed their continuous monitoring of the Russian military and their commitment to promptly informing the Ukrainians of any movements.

A satellite image shows smoke billowing from Russia's Black Sea fleet headquarters after a missile strike in Sevastopol, Crimea, on September 22 2023.

Planet Labs PBC/Handout/Reuters

CNN confirmed that the group's affiliation with Ukraine's intelligence services could be verified. The group emphasized the significance of their work, which is also accompanied by considerable risks, as Russian authorities, particularly the Federal Security Service (FSB), actively seek out its members.

Atesh stated that they employ different methods to intercept communications in various locations such as apartments, cafes, or any other establishments. They also continuously endeavor to place FSB agents within their movement. However, Russian attempts to infiltrate their ranks persist, but their team adeptly detects and handles them. Moreover, they have rigorous criteria for screening potential agents, and the majority of agents operate independently to minimize the risk of information leakage. The agents belonging to their movement fully comprehend the risks involved and strictly adhere to safety protocols.

Ready for liberation

The Partisans attribute their successful mission fulfillment to the extensive backing of the local community. They assert that their synchronized assaults from both the air and the sea are contributing to the growth of their forces.

"Our movement and other resistance movements are growing in size and strength," they proclaimed. "The occupiers are well aware of this fact. The pro-Ukrainian inhabitants of Crimea are prepared for the emancipation of the peninsula."

Korchynskyi emphasized that achieving liberation is the ultimate objective of these incursions, and Ukrainian forces have been progressively improving them, particularly in terms of amphibious strategies.

The bridge connecting the Russian mainland with the Crimean peninsula across the Kerch Strait in July 2023.

Muzykant recognizes that there is still ample time and significant effort required before Ukrainian forces can initiate a larger offensive on Crimea. However, there are more daring and promising raids to come.

"They are weakened through the destruction of their military equipment and personnel, yet they become more vigilant," he elaborated. "They grow stronger. Hence, each subsequent mission poses greater challenges."

Ultimately, he is motivated by the conviction that the Ukrainians in Crimea are anticipating their arrival.

"They are waiting for our sign to start the fight against the Russian aggression," he explained.

The very early stages of that fight may already be unfolding.