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Today, we will discuss in detail the small infantry unit tactics, often wrongly dubbed innovative in military reports, how the Wagner Group debuted it during the battles for Bakhmut, and how it is still used to this day, in the context of the battle for Pokrovsk.
This approach emphasizes using disposable infantry in a series of skirmishes rather than traditional, concentrated mass assaults. Its origins lie in the resource-constrained yet high-intensity environment of Bakhmut, where Wagner mercenaries adapted to overcome Ukrainian defenses with limited equipment and highly expendable manpower.
Russian tactics involve using disposable platoons made up of conscripts, prisoners, or undertrained civilians, further divided into small fire teams of 2-5 soldiers. They advance in waves, exploiting terrain for cover, digging in in new positions, and incrementally decreasing the no man’s land or grey zone in between Russian and Ukrainian positions.
Each Russian wave serves a narrow purpose: engage defenders, reveal Ukrainian firing positions, and apply relentless pressure. Despite heavy casualties, Russian soldiers are forced to advance, often enduring appalling conditions surrounded by fallen comrades for weeks at a time. Soldiers who can still walk continue forward, even while wounded, while immobile ones hold out under fear of execution for retreating. This brutal discipline prolongs the assault's effectiveness but at immense human and psychological cost to the attackers. The overarching aim is to exhaust Ukrainian defenders, deplete ammunition, and stretch defensive lines, paving the way for a creeping advance or opportunities for more decisive breakthroughs.
The adoption of small infantry unit tactics is largely a response to the battlefield realities that have rendered traditional combined-arms operations ineffective. Ukrainian artillery, precision strikes, and FPV drones severely disrupt Russian attempts to conduct classic assaults involving large numbers of armored vehicles and infantry. Even during the staging phases, Russian forces face significant losses due to Ukraine's artillery and drone strikes on the Russian rear, often leaving them unable to gather sufficient strength for coordinated assaults.
These challenges, coupled with Russia's relatively large pool of expendable manpower, result in small-scale, attritional tactics being much more effective, as Russians have no problem using "meat waves" of infantry to make incremental territorial gains. By clearing forward positions and exploiting gaps in Ukrainian defenses, these tactics allow Russian forces to sustain offensive momentum, albeit at a tremendous cost in personnel.
However, Russia's wave assaults also take a psychological toll on Ukrainian defenders, eroding morale, especially when communication falters. Countering these tactics requires addressing both the operational challenges and the mental strain imposed by continuous pressure.
To counter Russian small-unit tactics, Ukrainian defenders must focus on fortified positions with overlapping fields of fire, forcing Russian forces to suppress multiple positions simultaneously. Key tools include machine guns, automatic grenade launchers, and portable mortars, which engage advancing groups while remaining concealed. Continuous drone surveillance and observation posts help detect enemy movements early, allowing preemptive strikes on Russians trying to dig in closer. Coordination and clear communication are crucial, with a 24/7 operational command ensuring rapid resource allocation and unified defense, enabling positions to be held under sustained pressure.
One good example comes from the direction of Pokrovsk, where near the village of Krasny Yar, Russian infantry launched several assaults on Ukrainian positions and tried to advance through open fields, relying on terrain features and minimal urban shelter to break through Ukrainian defenses. However, the Ukrainian forces countered these assaults effectively with Mavic 3 drones, dropping shells on the advancing Russian infantry. As the Russian infantry continued to push forward, they were met with sustained and precise drops from Ukrainian drones, decimating several waves of soldiers. The result was a severe attrition of Russian forces, halting their momentum and forcing them to retreat.
Overall, the "small infantry unit" tactic demonstrates Russia's pragmatic response to the limitations imposed by battlefield realities. It capitalizes on human resources to compensate for deficiencies in equipment and coordination, securing limited tactical successes at an enormous human cost. To counter this strategy, Ukraine must integrate robust training, advanced surveillance, and precise firepower. By systematically targeting staging areas and neutralizing waves before they can overwhelm defenses, Ukraine can weaken Russia's reliance on attrition tactics and maintain defensive cohesion and momentum, effectively outlasting the enemy’s manpower reserves.
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