"Fog is an opportunity to act": Filatov on the fall battles and the situation in "Aidar"

The change in command of the 24th Separate Assault Regiment “Aidar” sparked outrage among the unit’s servicemembers and veterans, who appealed to the country’s leadership to reconsider the decision. Meanwhile, weather conditions on the front lines are deteriorating, and fog, rain, and colder temperatures are creating both new opportunities and additional threats for Ukrainian troops.

Dmytro Filatov, commander of the 1st Separate Assault Regiment named after Dmytro Kotsyubailo – callsign “Perun” – explained on 24 Channel what might have caused the discontent within “Aidar” and why it is important for volunteer units to preserve their traditions. He also described how his regiment takes advantage of challenging weather conditions, who has the advantage in autumn battles, and what is most effective in containing Russian breakthroughs.

Why the change in command outraged “Aidar”

The 24th Separate Assault Regiment “Aidar” appealed to the president and the commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, requesting that the decision to relieve Major Oleksandr Kovalenko of his command be revoked. How do you view this situation, given the ties between volunteer units?

The situation is actually not entirely clear. Right now, we see the unit’s own position and public outrage, primarily from “Aidar” veterans. But that’s not enough to fully assess the circumstances behind the personnel decision.

“Aidar” is a very important unit within the Ukrainian Defense Forces. It serves as a model for the modern Armed Forces, as it was formed by volunteers back in 2014 and has demonstrated a high level of military proficiency throughout its existence.

I know for certain that no significant problems or concerns regarding the unit itself were identified during inspections. Therefore, I would like to hear the unit commander’s public statement regarding what is happening.

It is possible that Oleksandr Kovalenko is satisfied with the prospect of further career advancement. Perhaps his transfer to another position is not the main reason for the soldiers’ dissatisfaction.

I suspect that the outrage may be primarily related to the candidate for the future commander. After all, as far as I understand, they are considering a representative from another unit whose methods of warfare were, until recently, considered ineffective.

Here, it is important to understand the unique nature of volunteer units. For them, continuity in leadership and the preservation of internal traditions are of the utmost importance.

The backbone of such units consists of people united not only by their service but also by shared combat experience. Among them are many who have lost loved ones, their homes, or the territories where they lived before the Russian aggression.

This creates a very strong ideological foundation. The soldiers are bound together by a shared history, beliefs, and trust that has been forged over the years.

If a unit loses this legacy, it risks losing its own traditions and rapidly falling into decline. That is why I believe that the current outrage within “Aidar” is likely linked, to a large extent, to the person being proposed as the new commander.

Fog doesn’t help every unit

A period of fog, rain, and colder weather is beginning on the front lines. How does the change in weather affect your regiment’s combat operations?

We’ve now shifted the focus of our missions. The terrain where our unit operates is more urbanized, so challenging weather conditions open up additional opportunities for us.

For our regiment, fog is an opportunity to act. We’re using these conditions quite effectively, and I think there will be good news soon regarding the results of our unit’s latest operations.

But the situation isn’t the same across the entire front line. For many other units of the Defense Forces, such weather, on the contrary, creates critical problems.

First and foremost, this is due to the infantry’s insufficient training and the lack of proper organization for conducting combat operations in adverse weather conditions.

Fog and rain limit the capabilities of surveillance and reconnaissance using drones. Consequently, it becomes more difficult to detect Russian groups in a timely manner and strike them using UAVs.

The enemy is taking advantage of these circumstances. Russian troops can penetrate deeper into our positions, and the combat formations of our units become less dense and less stable.

Therefore, deteriorating weather conditions do not in and of themselves give an advantage to any one side. Much depends on the training of service members, the organization of command and control, and the unit’s ability to operate without constant aerial surveillance.

Defense forces have the advantage in adapting to winter

Every year, Ukrainian and Russian military forces adapt to the cold season by adjusting their tactics and the use of equipment. Who, in your opinion, will win this race to adapt to fall and winter conditions?

I believe the Ukrainian Defense Forces will prevail in adapting to weather conditions.

We’ve already learned a great deal during this full-scale war. And now we see that the longer the fighting continues, the more resistance the Russian army faces.

Moreover, the enemy is increasingly coming up against not only our servicemen directly but also a well-prepared defense system.

During this time, we have built many fortifications and non-explosive barriers. Support forces have developed significantly, particularly support battalions that provide engineering support for our positions.

This makes it possible to create obstacles that Russian troops cannot quickly overcome, even under weather conditions favorable for covert advancement.

Fog and rain may help the enemy get closer to our positions, but they do not eliminate the physical barriers. The Russians still have to find ways to overcome the prepared defense system.

Even if they manage to breach the barriers within a short period of time, once the weather improves, Ukrainian troops can quickly resume mining operations and destroy enemy groups that have managed to infiltrate our positions.

And this is precisely what allows us to counter an enemy that has a significantly larger force.

Therefore, I view our ability to adapt positively. We are gradually building a defense system in which the enemy cannot rely solely on numerical superiority or a temporary deterioration in weather conditions.

What is most effective in stopping Russian breakthroughs

Your regiment is constantly carrying out missions in challenging sectors of the front where the enemy is attempting to break through our defenses. What is currently the most effective way to prevent the Russians from penetrating deep into Ukrainian positions?

First and foremost, it is the effective work of support battalions, which ensure the physical resilience of the defense in a specific area.

But a properly organized system of combined-arms combat is no less important. A unit cannot rely solely on any single type of weaponry or a single tactic.

If a commander focuses exclusively on drones, that is not enough. Attention must be paid simultaneously to infantry training, artillery operations, and the formation of armored groups.

Artillery must be organized to operate continuously in response to modern challenges. The infantry must be prepared to operate in various conditions, particularly when visibility deteriorates and the capabilities of unmanned aerial reconnaissance are limited.

At the same time, it is important to maintain armored vehicles that can be rapidly deployed against Russian breakthrough attempts.

For example, if the enemy decides to attack in groups on motorcycles, this should not come as a surprise to the commander. With proper defense organization, he can deploy BTR-4E or Bradley vehicles, which are capable of effectively countering such groups even under difficult weather conditions.

Therefore, the best results come from a combination of prepared engineering positions, obstacles, infantry, artillery, and armored vehicles.

Support battalions are responsible for fortifying the territory, while the command must coordinate the interaction of all weapons systems and units.

The commander’s responsibility and the effective work of the staff remain crucial here. If all elements of combined-arms combat operate in a coordinated manner, it becomes significantly more difficult for Russian troops to exploit bad weather to penetrate deep into our positions.

Dmytro Filatov on the change of command at Aidar: watch the video