Sky News conducted an interview with the commander of special forces who leads a network of Ukrainian civilians residing and engaging in combat behind Russian lines, marking his first public discussion on the matter.
One of Ukraine's most secretive strategies in countering Russia's invasion is beginning to emerge from the shadows.
A new video shared on social media highlights the covert operations of a growing network of Ukrainian civilians living and fighting behind Russian lines. Led by Ukrainian special forces, this resistance movement is expanding, according to its commander, who emphasized that anyone—regardless of age or gender—can join. Drawing parallels to Britain's Special Operations Executive during World War II, the commander revealed that the Ukrainian resistance's tasks in Russian-occupied territories included espionage, sabotage, and the elimination of Russian forces, as reported to Sky News.
The commander, a special forces colonel who requested anonymity for security reasons and is referred to as Mykola, disclosed that the resistance is active not only in Crimea and parts of southern and eastern Ukraine but has also carried out operations within Russia. Additionally, resistance cells are being established in regions of Ukraine that may come under Russian control in the future.
Within Russia, civilians opposing Vladimir Putin’s regime have begun to draw inspiration from Ukraine’s resistance to support their efforts. "Our work is dangerous," Mykola acknowledged. "Many of our people have died or been imprisoned by the Russians. But we are undeterred, as our mission justifies the sacrifices."
This marks the first time the head of the Resistance of Ukrainian Special Operations Forces, the military branch overseeing the resistance, has given an interview. Speaking from a hotel in Kyiv, Mykola described the resistance members as individuals who quietly and covertly complete their missions without seeking recognition. "Our main motivation is freedom," he said. "We are determined to defend our country... The Russians will have to either kill us all or leave."
Video footage provided to Sky News by Ukrainian special forces purportedly shows various resistance missions. However, Mykola was reluctant to discuss specific operations due to the risks involved for those on the ground. One clip from last year allegedly depicts resistance members setting fire to electrical transmitters in Russia's Voronezh region, which borders Ukraine.
Another video from 2023 shows masked individuals spray-painting the resistance's logo—two arrows pointing in opposite directions with a dot in the center—on buildings in occupied Donetsk. Footage from the early days of the full-scale invasion in 2022 reportedly captures a resistance member filming Russian troop movements in Irpin, near Kyiv, during Moscow's failed attempt to seize the capital.
The resistance not only monitors Russian forces but also actively disrupts supply lines, making it harder for Moscow to provide food and ammunition to its frontline troops. "We also aim to eliminate Russian military personnel and destroy their equipment," Mykola said.
The intelligence gathered by the resistance is shared with the Ukrainian armed forces to help coordinate military strikes, including operations in Crimea. Mykola emphasized that the resistance will play a crucial role in any future effort to reclaim the peninsula, which has been under Russian occupation since 2014. "Many of our operatives are conducting reconnaissance missions in Crimea," he said. "The FSB [Russian security services] is active there, but they have yet to catch our people."
Reflecting on the high stakes of his role, Mykola added, "Thank God for that."
The resistance began informally after Russia's initial invasion of Crimea and eastern Ukraine a decade ago but became more structured under the command of special operations forces in the lead-up to Putin's full-scale invasion in 2022. Mykola likened the organization to an iceberg, with himself at the visible tip, special forces officers managing different sections below him, and a vast network of resistance members spread out underneath.
While he did not disclose the exact size of the resistance, Mykola stated, "There are thousands of these people... and I am pleased to see that number growing." The promotional video invites anyone interested in joining to contact the special forces through a secure website. "We are now actively promoting the resistance movement and creating avenues for every Ukrainian citizen to communicate with us confidentially and offer their services," he said.
Although the recruitment drive aims to bolster the resistance, it also increases the risk of infiltration by pro-Russian agents. However, Mykola assured that his team is vigilant and cuts ties with anyone suspected of being a mole.
As the resistance expands within Ukraine, Mykola noted that his unit has recently received inquiries from Russian civilians interested in their methods. While the Ukrainian resistance does not directly manage these Russian efforts, they are beginning to adopt Ukrainian techniques. "Their resistance is against Putin's regime, not part of our movement within Ukraine," Mykola explained. "But they are learning from us, and we see great potential in their actions within Russia."
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