Ukrainian Marines Seek Revenge in Zelenyi Shlyakh Attack

On October 10, 2024, in Zelenyi Shlyakh, a hamlet located in western Russia's Kursk Oblast, Russian marines from the 155th Naval Infantry Brigade attacked a group of Ukrainian drone operators. This incident prompted the Ukrainian marines from the 501st Marine Battalion to launch a counterattack in the same area a week later, seeking revenge for the Ukrainian prisoners executed by Russian forces. The 501st Marine Battalion had been significantly reduced in personnel following Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 but had since been rebuilt and actively engaged in the conflict. The Ukrainian forces displayed their capabilities by receiving assistance from three elite brigades, namely the 82nd and 95th Air Assault Brigades and the 47th Mechanized Brigade. During the counteroffensive, the 95th Air Assault Brigade successfully ambushed a Russian marine platoon, effectively neutralizing it with the use of drone technology, missiles, and conventional weaponry. Reports indicated severe losses for the Russian side, with three armored personnel carriers destroyed and around 30 Russian soldiers killed. The ongoing conflict between the two nations has resulted in continuous back and forth, with both sides suffering substantial losses and demanding accountability for the actions committed. The Ukrainian military characterized the Russian forces involved in the initial attack as “bastards and rabid dogs,” indicating the personal nature of this combat engagement. The broader war encompasses a wider range of strategic military operations that led to continued escalations and reprisals, demonstrating the cycle of violence and the deeply entrenched hostilities prevalent in this ongoing conflict.