The Power Within: The Kyiv Independent’s first-ever magazine. Be among the first to get it.

pre-order now
Skip to content
Edit post

Special forces extract two soldiers who were in occupied land since start of invasion

by The Kyiv Independent news desk September 30, 2023 4:15 PM 1 min read
This audio is created with AI assistance

Two Ukrainian airborne assault operators have been extracted from occupied territory by special forces after spending over 1.5 years behind enemy lines, the Ukrainian Navy said on Sept. 30.

The Navy's intelligence arm was several weeks ago informed about the two Ukrainians who had been in occupied territory since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

The announcement did not say in which oblast they were trapped.    

The two operators had engaged in combat against the Russians and were too seriously injured to slip out on their own. They were being concealed by local residents, according to the navy.  

The rescue was conducted by the navy's special forces unit Angels, while an airborne assault detachment provided covering fire during the extraction.

A video posted with the announcement showed two camouflage-clad men approaching and embracing another group of soldiers waiting for them.

When the full-scale invasion began, some Ukrainian troops, law enforcers and civilians stayed behind in various occupied territories to serve as spies, scouts, smugglers and assassins against the Russian forces and their local collaborators.

Russian security forces sought to find and break resistance cells, using interrogation under torture.

News Feed

11:07 AM

Rubio to discuss Ukraine, NATO in Brussels this week.

"In Brussels, Secretary Rubio will attend the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting to discuss security priorities for the Alliance, including increased Allied defense investment and securing lasting peace in Ukraine," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.
10:14 AM

2 killed, 21 injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over past day.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down two Kh-59/69 guided aerial missiles launched by Russia against Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the Air Force repored. Russian forces did not carry out a mass drone strike against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure overnight, marking first such instance in 2025.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.