“We have to be the best about it.” Americans quote the Polish general

Brig. Michał Strzelecki, commander of the 6th Airborne Brigade, there is no doubt: the war has shown that the skills typical of light infantry, such as those represented by Airborne troops, are still very much needed.

– We see in Ukraine something like a return to the competence of light infantry – says in an interview with the American Business Insider.

Light infantry troops are fast, versatile and ready for action without the support of heavy equipment, such as tanks or infantry fighting vehicles. They are usually modestly armed, but have flexibility and mobility. Their domain is ambushes and quick displacements. In the case of airborne troops, air operations also carried out from aircraft and helicopter decks.

During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, American and Natural troops have repeatedly used light troops for patrols and actions in small groups. The conflict in Ukraine is a completely different scale – a classic, full -size clash. And yet: again it turns out that the light infantry has an important task to play. And not only today, but also in future wars that can take a similar character.

A good example is the sums, in the northeast of Ukraine. In the first days of the invasion, it was mobile light infantry mobile branches operating between resistance points played a key role in his defense. In turn, at Bachmut, light units took part in intensive urban fights.

In many situations of the Airborne and Assault Brigade, successful night attacks, ambushes of small groups and rapid military metastasis carried out.

See also: The former commander of the Ukrainian army warns: The modern war is far from what NATO is currently doing

In an interview during the exercises “Lively Sabre 25”, which took place recently in the south of Finland, General Strzelecki reminded that European theaters of activities historically focused on the maneuvering war. – It required, let's call it a large participation of mechanized and armored troops He noted.

The role of tanks could not be overestimated in both world wars. They acted in close cooperation with infantry, breaking the opponent's defense lines. During the Cold War, Soviet armored forces spent NATO eyelids, and this affected the development of Western armored abilities. Also, conflicts in former Yugoslavia in the 1990s confirmed the utility of tanks and other heavy equipment in combat operations on the continent.

Strzelecki, however, believes that the war in Ukraine showed something else: a light infantry did not disappear from the battlefield. – We need to develop these skills better and that's what we focus on in the 6th brigade. We focus on operations typical of our formation – he says. – We are a light infantry, airborne infantry. This is our specialty, so we must be the best in it – he adds.

Ukrainian battlefields is a place where tanks and combat vehicles have more difficult today than ever. And it's not just about Soviet constructions. American Abrams and German Leopards also have difficulties.

Russian defensive lines destroyed a large part of the Kiev counteroffensive plans in 2023. Ukrainian soldiers repeatedly abandoned the equipment and started to fight on foot. The effects of such actions were different, but in some cases it was the light infantry that took the burden of the battle.

Over time, the situation for armored troops has worsened. All because of unmanned aerial vehicles, which have become an integral part of this war. Drones provide continuous supervision, and also offer completely new ways of attack, even by discharges of vehicles. In such conditions, there is simply no place for tanks.

Thousands of combat vehicles have been damaged or destroyed, often by tiny drones with explosives.

The above text is a translation with American Business Insider edition